NEW DELHI: In a rare decision, President Pranab Mukherjee dismissed Visva-Bharati vice-chancellor Sushanta Duttagupta after the HRD ministry resubmitted the proposal to terminate his services last week.Duttagupta, who was found guilty of misconduct and financial bungling by a government probe panel, was sacked under the General Clauses Act and this could impact his postretirement benefits. He is the first V-C of a central university to be dismissed in recent times.As desired by the President, who had returned the sacking proposal the first time around, the HRD ministry sought the opinion of attorney general Mukul Rohatgi and the law ministry.Rohatgi said the HRD ministry had followed due process before seeking the President’s approval. He also left the decision of meeting Duttagupta to the President but cited three cases to say that personal audience was not needed.Ever since Duttagupta resigned in September last year through an email, the HRD ministry has been insisting that it could not be accepted. The ministry argued that Duttagupta’s was not a routine resignation. He was found guilty on various counts of misconduct, dereliction of duty and even misappropriation of funds.