Akshay Azad
JAMMU, Aug 12: The brazen extent of corrupt practices resorted to by Principal Government College for Women Parade Prof. Hemla Aggarwal could be gauged from the fact that during her tenure as Principal Government SPMR College of Commerce, she had made payments to the tune of Rs. 1.40 Lakhs for a pirated software, cost of which was not more than Rs. 50.
Surprisingly, the enquiry ordered by Higher Education Department vide Govt. order number 236-HE of 2009 dated 29-10-2009, had explicitly maintained that Hemla Aggarwal had made purchases worth Rs. 7,99,510 without having any competence, without inviting tenders, administrative approval but so far no action has been taken against Prof. Hemla Aggarwal, due to reasons best known to authorities.
On February 2, 2014, Higher Education department had sent a show cause notice to Prof. Hemla Aggarwal, but astonishingly, that show cause notice of 2012, was mysteriously misplaced by some officers to shield Prof. Hemla Aggarwal from any action.
According to "Show Cause Notice" number Edu-CoII/PF-1019/Comp. Appl. dated February, 2, 2012, copy of which is with Early Times, it has been maintained that the scrutiny, including stock verification of the items revealed that Adobe Master Collection Creative Suite Software was purchased at the cost of Rs. 1,40,400 and on checking the copy available in the College, the same was found to be pirated costing hardly Rs. 50 to Rs. 100.
Moreover, MAC GFX workstation was purchased in the month of July, 2009 and it was found in packed condition in the month of March 2010, which clearly established that the computer was not at all required. "The computer was purchased at the cost of Rs. 1,40,400 whereas the computer with similar configuration should not cost more than Rs. 80,000.
The notice further read as three more software "Final Cut Studio 2, Final Cut Express 4 and Final Cut Pluggins" have been shown purchased at Rs. 67,600, Rs. 10,400 and Rs. 78,000 respectively. At the time of verification Final Cut Studio 2 and Final Cut Pluggins were not found available in stocks.
The SCN further pointed out that one hardware CANOPUS ADVC 110 has been shown to have been purchased at the cost of Rs. 41,600 and its driver and application software, which otherwise was bundled free with the hardware, has been shown to have been purchased at the cost of Rs. 48,800. Even the hardware should not cost as much as shown, the notice claimed.
"The Principal has also got Wi-Fi network installed in the college at the total cost of Rs. 2,74,310. The installation of Wi-Fi network in the college has security related issues which seem to have been altogether ignored. The cost of various components used for Wi-Fi networking is also exorbitant as compared to the ruling market practices. For example a bundle of Cat 5 cable costs Rs. 39,00 in the market, the same has been purchased at Rs. 6,250 per bundle. D-Link Wireless card installed in the computers has been shown purchased at the cost of Rs. 2300 each whereas the same costs Rs. 1300 in the market. One wall mount rack D-Link brand has been purchased at the cost of Rs. 6200 a unit whereas the same cost Rs. 3400 per unit", the notice further maintained, adding the installation charges of Rs. 42,000 have also been paid, which by any standards were too excessive, besides on two visits by Special Secretary in College the Wi-Fi network was found to be non functional in computer lab number 1.
"During queries it was revealed that the college has returned two software's Abode Master Collection CS3 and Edius 4 to the Principal Supplier for upgradation to adobe master collection 4 and Edius 5 respectively on 25-2-2010 through prominent courier service vide AWB no. J 54947 dated 25-02-2010. On enquiring from the courier company, it was learnt that no such courier was sent through them", the notice further pointed out. |
