VKSU yet to take action in irregularities in purchase of books worth Rs 2 cr in 2012

Kumar Rajiv Nayan

Ara : Ajay Kumar Tiwari alias Munmun, former Senator, Veer Kuer Singh University (VKSU, Ara, on September 11, 2019,  threatened to move Patna High Court against the VKSU administration for its failure to take action against those involved in irregularities in the purchase of books worth about Rs 2 crore about seven years ago.

Ajay Kumar Tiwari alias Munmun said that the VKSU administration had purchased books worth about Rs 2 crore for B.Ed, MBA, and other departments in the name of National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in 2012 without following any norms prescribed for it. These books were purchased from the fund received from the University Grant Commission (UGC). He said that he himself had written to the Governor cum Chancellor, Universities of Bihar, and even the Chairman, Bihar Legislative Council, and also sought information from the Education Department under the Right to Information Act. He said that all reports have been received from the State Information Commission now and they raised question on mode of payment for purchase of books.

Tiwari added that the then MLC Binod Kumar Chaudhary had raised the issue in Bihar Legislative Council and then Education Minister, Bihar, had assured an inquiry into the matter. He further said that the Director and the Deputy Director, Higher Education, had inquired into the matter on February 23, 2013, and submitted their inquiry report but no action has so far been taken against those responsible for the irregularities in purchase of books.

Coordinator, College Development Committee (CCDC), VKSU, Neeraj Kumar said that the VKSU administration had formed a special inquiry committee after the matter was raised in  Bihar Legislative Council and the VKSU administration would very soon submit its inquiry report to the Council. He said that the special inquiry committee had summoned the former Vice-Chancellor, VKSU, Kumaresh Prasad Singh, former Finance Advisor, VKSU, Enaul Haque, former CCDC, VKSU, Sameer Kumar Verma, the then Registrar, VKSU, Manoj Kumar, former Finance Officer, VKSU, Arun Kumar, former Director, NBA, VKSU, Ram Janm Sharma, and former, Principal-in-charge, B.Ed. VKSU, who were in their respective offices when the books were purchased, for their statements on purchase of books and the special inquiry committee also went through all the relevant papers.

Tiwari said if the VKSU administration did not take stern action against the guilty officials of the university at the earliest despite having all inquiry reports, he would move Patna High Court against the guilty officials and also against the officials of the VKSU administration.