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| Govt penalizes selectively; Sahini, Hamal, Shehgal, others go scot free | | 'It's more than what meets eye' | | Syed Junaid Hashmi
JAMMU, June 8: State government especially Governor N.N.Vohra's office has taken selective action against the officials of Jammu University who were indicted by the three member inquiry committee.
In-depth analysis of inquiry committee report brings to light government's 'my favourite' oriented approach while dealing with the recommendations made by the three member committee. Certain friends of National Conference (NC) who are an essential part of the Jammu University's loud mouth team have ensured that those officials who did not budge to their demands of appointment and extension are penalized overnight.
This is not to deny the fact that those penalized so far are facing serious charges of financial bunglings and administrative manipulation. But government's action has so far remained biased and one-sided. Apart from selective leaks which have already appeared in the media, the three member inquiry committee report has recommended scrutiny of purchases worth Rs. 3 crore made by Prof. Irshad Ahmed Hamal for Bhaderwah campus of Jammu University while acting as its rector since its inception in the year 2006.
Taking note of charge leveled against Hamal that he used around Rs. 3 crore in buying luxurious items without following any financial code or rule, the inquiry committee has recommended that purchases made at Bhaderwah campus be subjected to scrutiny by a special audit team.
Presently, Irshad Hamal is Vice-Chancellor of Baba Ghulam Shah Badshah University (BGSBU) at Rajouri.
If sources are to be believed, action is yet to be initiated against Hamal. Besides, the new VC of Jammu University is yet to constitute a team of officers for carrying out special audit of the accounts of Bhaderwah campus. Committee has also taken note of the charge leveled against Prof. B.P.S. Shehgal, who retired as Professor of Law department. He has been charged with using University vehicle for personal and family affairs.
It has been alleged that mere scrutiny of log books of vehicles used by Shehgal would their unveil gross and blatant misuse while running within city limits. Another charge is that University officials purchased 8 brand new cars and vans without the approval of competent authority. The purchases were made despite the fact that university already has a fleet of more than 50 vehicles with no field work requirement.
Besides, it has been alleged that there is no budgetary provision for cars or drivers and all payments are made through local fund meant for the students. The committee has taken note of this charge and recommended that university should out-source its transport requirements strictly on the basis of need since it has a huge fleet of vehicles of which 51 are operational and 11 are grounded.
Committee has stated that it is unable to understand need for keeping such a fleet of vehicles when it does not need them at all. Committee has also taken note of 350 laptops distributed by the University administration to the academic staff. It has called for inventorying the laptops and ensuring that they are utilized properly. The committee has taken note of the fact that ex-VC of JU Prof. Varun Sahini renovated his office by utilizing more than Rs. 1 crore.
It has called for carrying out a special audit to find the facts despite the fact that University contested this charge vehemently.
Much more is their in the inquiry committee report which government has left untouched for reasons best known to it. Early Times would be unveiling the truth in the days ahead.
It needs to be mentioned here that Pro-Chancellor of the University, Chief Minister Omar Abdullah constituted enquiry committee headed by none other than the Chief Secretary Madhav Lal on April 26, 2011.
Other members of the committee included the then Principal Secretary Planning B.B.Vyas, the then Commissioner/ Secretary Finance Sudhanshu Panday and the then Commissioner/ Secretary Higher Education Department Tanveer Jahan. This committee finished task in December 2011 and submitted the report.
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