Irregularities: Visvesvaraya Technological University official asks minister to intervene

Bengaluru: While the Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) is already facing an inquiry by a one-man judicial commission, one of its Executive Council members has petitioned to the Higher Education Minister T.B. Jayachandra urging him to look into various arbitrary decisions taken by the university.

According to the petition submitted by Karan Kumar, the university authorities have violated the Statutes and Act of VTU while taking seven major decisions.

These include ineffective utilisation of e-Learning fee collected from students between the academic years 2011-12 and 2015-16; irregularities in calling for a tender during May 2015; marks cards scam; improper financial statistics provided by VTU authorities during Annual Reports of FY 2013-14 and 2014-15; recruitment of 100 non-teaching and support  staff during October 2015 and absorption or regularization of contract staff; appointment of 168 teaching staff during December 2013 and deficiencies while recording proceedings of 108th to 121st VTU Executive Council meetings.

Karan Kumar also urged the Minister to seek detailed report from the VTU over action taken on CAG reports from Financial Year 2001-02 to 2014-15 with respect to Annual Reports submitted by VTU during Financial Years from 2001 to 2015, research Initiatives undertaken during the last 5 academic years, civil construction activities both completed and in progress and procurement of laboratory equipment since July 1, 2010.

An officer from the higher education department told this newspaper that issues raised by the EC member were serious in nature. “Some of these allegations are already being probed by the judicial commission. But few others need to be investigated,” he said.

 

 

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