Shadow Correspondent
Jammu, Oct 01
To register protest against the financial impropriety and corruption in Central University of Jammu (CUJ), the cadre of National Secular Forum (NSF) held a strong protest demonstration in here today.
The protest was led by NSF state chief, Dr Vikas Sharma. The agitating students raised slogans against Vice Chancellor Prof Ashok Aima and held him responsible for the prevailing mess.
Addressing the cadre, Dr Sharma said, “it appears that administration have no control over the finance wing of university with more than 60% payment stands released by the University without ascertaining their factual position on ground.
He mentioned that construction and fabrication work of the main university is going on a very slow pace, but payments are released without check and break in violation of rules governing financial ethics. “M/S Anil & Co engaged for electrical work has been assigned the task of building seven electric sub-stations, laying down cables along the University roads and installing electric poles in the campus,” he added and pointed out that till date no sub-station has been put to operation despite lapse of considerable time period against the initial allotted time.
He further said that about 100 kms of HT/LT cable worth Rs 15.62 crores was purchased in bulk by the Contractor against the agreement signed between University and Contractor through PMC EPIL, but shockingly 60% i. e. Rs. 9.6 crores payment has been released by university authority without any justification, thus raising mystery about its intention behind such a doubtful move.
He said that despite gigantic expenditure, there has been no activity by the concerned agency on site since February 2016.
Apprehending nexus between contractor and concerned university authority ,Dr. Vikas informed that upon insistence of the contractor to release rest of the payment, the matter was referred for legal opinion, but surprisingly a payment of Rs. 2.00 crores as revolving fund was made to the Contractor through PMC EPIL during Feb 2017 much against legal opinion from the standing council despite the fact that Executive Engineer and Incharge Financial Officer did not put their signature for release of payment.
As if it was not enough as administrative arrogance, Executive Engineer was unceremoniously relieved back to the parent department for being honest and technically competent officer as he did not suit the whims and vagaries of few officers hell bent to loot the public money in day light, he said, adding that buildings which are operational are not getting proper electricity due to non availability of electric sub station and Air Conditioners fitted in the buildings are yet to be out to operation so far despite spending huge money.
The NSF chief demanded that FIR must be lodged against the VC in corruption case and he be put behind bars for looting the public exchequer.
Among those who were present in the Protest included, Rishikesh Rana, Pushpinder Singh, Manmohan Singh, Ishtaq Naik, Sheetal Singh Ayan Malik, Anshu Sharma, Surjeet Kumar, and others.
