Avinash Azad
JAMMU, Oct 4: Contradicting its own information provided by Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) under RTI Act, the Registrar of the University termed media reporting based on replies given by SMVDU against various RTI applications, as 'Half Truths' and has 'advised' (warned) all faculty, staff and students of the university, not to indulge in any such activity.
Following some news items published in Early Times, on September 25, Registrar of SMVDU, Katra issued a circular, to save its skin. "It has been noticed that some functionaries of the University are engaged in regular touch with various newspapers and hereby have become defacto-instrumental in the publication of half truths which are distorting the actual position of the facts and are becoming detrimental to the interest of the University by bringing disrepute to the University", the circular reads.
If further maintained that all faculty, staff and students were hereby advised not to indulge in any such activity which bring disrepute to the University. Pertinently, On September 11, Early Times had published a report, in which irrelevant equipment was purchased.
The report was as, in sheer violation of Government norms for procurements, the administration of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) Katra had procured irrelevant equipment worth Rs 1.75 crore without floating National or Global tenders.
The university in reply of RTI application has admitted that Mass ARRAY SEQUENOM equipment to carry out research work in Human Genetics, was procured without floating tenders to the tune of Rs. 1.75 Crores. More interestingly the subject Human Genetics is not available in the University.
Smelling irregularities in the functioning of university following the RTI reply, social activist Udhay Chand has filled a case with State Vigilance Organization against university authorities alleging malpractice at SMVDU, but so far no action has been taken by SVO.
On September 16 throwing the rule book into dustbin, the administration of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University engaged wife of a senior executive of Shrine Board on deputation basis, but within six months her monthly salary was enhanced by administration.
Documents in possession of Early Times revealed that Roop Avtar Kaur an (IFS) who is also wife of Additional Chief Executive Officer of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board (SMVDSB), Mandeep Bhandari, had joined the SMVDU as Registrar on deputation basis on August 17, 2009. "When she had joined the University, her monthly basic pay was fixed at Rs 31,680, interestingly within five months of her service, her salary was enhanced, since she is enjoying pay band of Rs 37,000-67,000 with grade pay of Rs 10,000", the documents reveal.
Information seeker, Udhay Chand, who had sought information from SMVDU, Katra under RTI Act 2009 and shared information with ET, claimed that the Registrar had been drawing the pay Rs 31,680 (Basic Pay Fixed) for six months from the date of her joining.
On September 21, in a brazen breach of official position, Registrar of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) Katra Roop Avtar Kour (IFS) who is on deputation had used official vehicle for un-official purposes, which is claiming huge toll on public exchequer for years.
Document in the possession of Early Times revealed that the official's vehicle allotted to Registrar for official purposes is plying 75-93 km per day, un-justified fuel consumption is taking huge toll on public exchequer. Entries of log book of Registrar's vehicle shows the vehicle plies an un-justified distance of 75-93 km between Katra to Campus, even the vehicle was too used in her absence. Since under act, the university is a residential university, all the predecessors of Registrar had been residing in the campus and the same practice is presumed to have been adopted by the Registrar.
Similarly on September 23, in a yet another deliberate breach of Government's service rule, the Shri Mata Vasihno Devi University (SMVDU) Katra has elevated blue eyed deputationist Section Officer (Legal) as Assistant Registrar (Legal). Documents in the possession of Early Times divulged that Rajesh Kumar Sharma was appointed as Section Officer (Legal) in the year 2009 while keeping his lien in parent department J&K Minerals Limited.
"He was on deputation for period of three years and his term was to be expired on June 2012, meanwhile he was elevated as AR (Legal) in an interview conducted by the University", the documents divulge. Sources at University said that in the absence of any permission for continuing his lien in University, the authorities of SMVDU were allowing to retain his present post where he was drawing his pay, allowance and perks. "To make it more specific that SMVDU had been contributing towards Contributory Provident Fund (CPF) @ 8.33 percent of the salary for the months of July 2012 to October 2012 in respect of all employees , where as he had succeeded in getting CPF @ 12 percent for above mentioned period of four months", the sources alleged. |
