Costly marks cards by BU: Activists cry foul

BENGALURU: Bangalore University has been brought under the scanner yet again for irregularities in implementing decisions taken at the syndicate level.
Education activists in the city on Tuesday alleged that the varsity has gone against the decisions taken by the syndicate earlier this year with regard to procuring purchasing material for new marks cards from this academic year.
“The varsity has not called for any tender for the process of purchasing marks cards since 2015. Even though the syndicate had decided in May to procure materials from Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL), Hyderabad based printing company HiTech has come into the picture from nowhere at present,” alleged an activist.

The varsity’s decision to purchase marks cards at a whopping Rs 36.5 per piece in place of the normal Rs 1.93 rate had raised eyebrows. The activists had then pointed out that the move depicts a clear violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement Act, as no tenders were invited.

Clarifying the situation, a highly placed source in the varsity told DC that the decision was taken in order to avoid any case of fabrication and tampering of marks cards which had been a “constant headache” for the varsity.

“The new material gives no chance of error for any expert to produce a fake copy and that was the priority given by the syndicate as well. The change of printer, however, is not yet confirmed and such a change at the last moment is practically impossible as well,” said the official.