State-run Bharathiar University Uses Funds To Distribute Largesse Among Staff, Officials
Universities are meant to be storehouses of knowledge but this one has skeletons tumbling out of the closet. Days after Bharathiar University vice-chancellor James G Pitchai retired, alle gations of financial excess are beginning to surface, starting with the purchase of lavish Di wali gifts worth `26lakh using public funds.
Documents in TOI's pos session show that in 2014 Pitchai, on the recommenda tions of an eight-member pan el, decided to purchase gifts that were to be distributed to the chancellor (governor K Ro saiah), Tamil Nadu ministers, officials of higher education department, members of the university's syndicate and senate, and university's teaching and non-teaching staff.The gifts included steel and silverware, shawls and vacuum cleaners.
A circular dated October 20, 2014 says the University sanctioned `19,37,500 towards purchase of silver and steelware (``11,25,000 for 450 pieces and `8,12,500 for 1,250 vessels and plates). As per another circular on the same date, an order for 250 vaccum cleaners worth `6.2lakh was also sanctioned. Both circulars were signed by then registrar, P K Manoharan.
The university sanctioned amounts for the purchase of vessels from AMRK Metal Industries in Tirupur. Bharathiar University non-teaching staff president S Ramkumar, said, “We received vacuum cleaners as Diwali gifts. However, I do not know about teaching staff receiving gifts.“
The issue was raised by senate members during a meeting held on December 31, 2014 and again on June 30 this year. One of them said, “This was a new practice in the university. There was no need for distributing gifts on Diwali.We were shocked that the gifts were so expensive.“ He said, “When we raised the issue during the senate meetings, the vice-chancellor said the decision was taken after approval from the syndicate members. However, when we asked him for details on the number of people who received the gifts, there was no response.“
A section of AUT members said this was a waste of public money . “Bharathiar University is a state-funded university, and such heavy expenses on gifts is an unnecessary practice,“ said one. Recently , the university staff had protested against irregularities in expenses, and had demanded a white paper on the university's financial status.
Pitchai said, “I have no direct involvement in the purchases. The eight-member committee made the decisions, and when they approached me, I approved it. As far as sanction of money is concerned, it was the registrar who approved it.“
Finance officer smells foul play in purchase of saris
It is not just Diwali gifts that Bharathiar University former vice-chancellor James G Pitchai seems to have splurged public money on.Fresh charges have it that he forged invoices and receipts in the name of a textile showroom to buy saris for women staff of the university last year.
A set of documents in possession with TOI reveals that Pitchai placed orders for 800 saris with a showroom in Coimbatore last year. And, he forwarded the invoice worth `4.22 lakh in the name of Karthick Raja, and requested the university's finance section to issue a cheque for the amount in the name of R Rakulan. Both names turned out to be fictitious.
TOI had reported on September 24 allegations that Pitchai had okayed purchase of Diwali gifts silverware, shawls and vacuum cleaners worth `26 lakh for the chancellor (governor K Rosaiah), state ministers and officials of the higher education department, members of the university's syndicate and senate, and staff. When Pitchai presented bills of the sari purchase, a former finance officer smelled a rat, and made a casual inquiry with the textile showroom. The showroom said there was no employee by the name Karthick Raja or Rakulan. It also denied having got any orders for saris from the university . Following this, the finance officer wrote to the university administration saying that the attempt to purchase saris for women's day is just a reason to loot university money , and also said that if the payment was made to an individual and not the company , the university will be cheating the government as there will be no need to pay value added tax (VAT). The university did not release the money , but neither the government nor the university chancellor took action against Pitchai. And, the finance officer who raised this issue with the university syndicate, demitted office in January 2015. The post remained vacant for the next three months.
-- Edited by Admin on Tuesday 29th of September 2015 02:58:44 PM
