Times of India: Hubballi: Wednesday,
May 25, 2016.
The Kannada
University has been accused of suspicious purchases and works, in flagrant
violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act-2000.
The
university has allegedly refused to heed to the objections raised by the State
Audit Department. The university allegedly spent Rs 6.44 crore on various works
without following the tender process stipulated by the state audit department.
Somanath HM
of Hospet, a citizen, said that he had sought details of violations of KTPP Act
between 2002 and 2016, as observed by the audit department. "As the audit
department had objected over expenses of Rs 6.44 crore between 2009 and 2013
under KTPP Act, I had sought details under the RTI Act. I had filed the RTI
application in March 2016. As the university registrar did not furnish the information
within prescribed time, I filed an appeal to the VC, who is the first appellate
authority," he said.
In a reply
dated May 11, 2016, to the RTI application, vice-chancellor Prof Mallika Ghanti
said the university had received no intimation of such an Act being in practice
and hence any questions of violations are defunct. However, this reply has
raised questions over alleged misuse of university grants.
Chatra Naik,
assistant controller of Ballari circle, audit department, confirmed that the
university had not rectified objections raised over violations of KTPP Act in
earlier years. "However, they are following the Act from the last 2
years," he said.
According to
documents, copies of which are available with TOI, 13 staff/officials had
attended e-procurement training in November 2011 at the e-procurement cell of
the centre for e-governance in Bengaluru. The department of personnel and
administrative reforms had insisted that the university procure all works worth
more than Rs 5 lakh through e-procurement under the KTPP Act with effect from
December 3, 2012. According to minutes of the meeting, conducted by principal
secretary of higher education department, registrars of all universities were
instructed to study the KTPP Act.
Manjunath
Bevinakatti, registrar of Kannada University, was present at the meeting held
on February 2, 2013. In the presentation, dated January 9, 2015, submitted
before Karnataka legislature, the university affirmed that it was following the
guidelines of the Act in all of its procurements. Vice-chancellor Prof Mallika
Ghanti said the university was obeying the guidelines of the KTPP and the other
Acts as well. "We are abiding by the all laws and Acts. However, I don't
remember this particular reply given by myself. Probably RTI application was
not specific about the financial year. If one seeks information specifically
under the RTI Act, we will definitely furnish it," she added.
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