₹35 cr shady deals in Thiruvalluvar univ
Audit Report: University Didn’t Follow Procedures
Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com
The audit reports of 16-year-old Thiruvalluvar University have exposed serious lapses and mismanagement of funds to the tune of ₹35.91crore. It also revealed that the university authorities have failed to maintain a registry of its assets and investments since the university was established in 2002.
The audit reports of the university accessed by TOI showed that the Directorate of Local Fund Audit (DLFA) raised 499 objections between 2002-2003 and 2014-2015 relating to activities and purchases worth ₹35.91 crore. Of this, the DLFA raised objections to 45 subjects that amounted to ₹11.39 crore in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 and 53 objections to a sum of ₹13.02 crore spent during 2012-2013.
In the 2011-2012 audit report, an objection was raised for procuring equipment, stationaries and other items worth ₹1.27crore between May 6, 2011 and December 12, 2011 without floating tenders. The university is yet to submit its reply to set right the audit objection.
When contacted, Thiruvalluvar University vice-chancellor K Murugan said they will rectify all the objections in the forthcoming joint sitting with the DLFA. He, however, refused to speak further.
Without floating tender, the university should not procure equipment or any materials above ₹20,000. It is a clear violation of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act 1998 and its rules, retired professor and former syndicate member of the university I Elangovan told TOI. The university had also failed to submit 13 registers during the audit conducted for the year 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. This included ‘cheques/DD received’ register (all departments), building register (all departments), asset register, vehicle register, tender register, information act – applications, action files and registers, all grants received registers and names of consolidated staff members’ register.
Citing the rule 11 (9) of Thiruvalluvar University Act 2002, the DLFA said the annual physical verification of university properties should be conducted. But it was not done for the last 15 years. The DLFA, in its closure report of the final audit for the year 2014-2015, stated that the university authorities had failed to maintain “a consolidated stock register of materials, equipment, tools and plants kept by various departments” and also failed to watch over the stocks. Sources said the university, as per government order, should maintain asset register in a prescribed format for all capital purchases and buildings constructed from all the grants, including University Grant Commission.
“No register is maintained regarding the purchases made from grants received by the university. Though the non-adherence of government guideline was brought to the notice of the officials in all the 16 audit annual reports, no action has been taken by the authorities to make clear the audit objection. It reveals that they are indulging in malpractices to pocket several crores of rupees,” said Elangovan, who is also the honorary president of the Thiruvalluvar University Employees’ Association.
“Not a single report has been forwarded to the government or the assembly,” added the retired professor and demanded that the TN governor, who is the chancellor of the universities, constitute an inquiry committee under section 10 of the University Act to probe the malpractices to the tune of several crores of rupees.
CORRUPTION EXPOSED
Objection raised in the audit report for 2010-2011 (audit report dated July 15, 2014): TU report says that scholarship account to the tune of Rs 1,33,291 disbursed to seven SC students and 31 BC/MBC students. But there is no proof/ acknowledgment to confirm the students received the scholarship
Objection raised in the audit report for 2011-2012: Equipment and stationery materials worth 1,27,43,945 from May 2011 and December 2011 procured without floating tenders
Audit objection for 2010-2011: Franking Machine (postal value stamping machine) procured for 1.31 lakh remains idle or not utilised
Audit Report: University Didn’t Follow Procedures
Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com
The audit reports of 16-year-old Thiruvalluvar University have exposed serious lapses and mismanagement of funds to the tune of ₹35.91crore. It also revealed that the university authorities have failed to maintain a registry of its assets and investments since the university was established in 2002.
The audit reports of the university accessed by TOI showed that the Directorate of Local Fund Audit (DLFA) raised 499 objections between 2002-2003 and 2014-2015 relating to activities and purchases worth ₹35.91 crore. Of this, the DLFA raised objections to 45 subjects that amounted to ₹11.39 crore in 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 and 53 objections to a sum of ₹13.02 crore spent during 2012-2013.
In the 2011-2012 audit report, an objection was raised for procuring equipment, stationaries and other items worth ₹1.27crore between May 6, 2011 and December 12, 2011 without floating tenders. The university is yet to submit its reply to set right the audit objection.
When contacted, Thiruvalluvar University vice-chancellor K Murugan said they will rectify all the objections in the forthcoming joint sitting with the DLFA. He, however, refused to speak further.
Without floating tender, the university should not procure equipment or any materials above ₹20,000. It is a clear violation of the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Transparency in Tenders Act 1998 and its rules, retired professor and former syndicate member of the university I Elangovan told TOI. The university had also failed to submit 13 registers during the audit conducted for the year 2013-2014 and 2014-2015. This included ‘cheques/DD received’ register (all departments), building register (all departments), asset register, vehicle register, tender register, information act – applications, action files and registers, all grants received registers and names of consolidated staff members’ register.
Citing the rule 11 (9) of Thiruvalluvar University Act 2002, the DLFA said the annual physical verification of university properties should be conducted. But it was not done for the last 15 years. The DLFA, in its closure report of the final audit for the year 2014-2015, stated that the university authorities had failed to maintain “a consolidated stock register of materials, equipment, tools and plants kept by various departments” and also failed to watch over the stocks. Sources said the university, as per government order, should maintain asset register in a prescribed format for all capital purchases and buildings constructed from all the grants, including University Grant Commission.
“No register is maintained regarding the purchases made from grants received by the university. Though the non-adherence of government guideline was brought to the notice of the officials in all the 16 audit annual reports, no action has been taken by the authorities to make clear the audit objection. It reveals that they are indulging in malpractices to pocket several crores of rupees,” said Elangovan, who is also the honorary president of the Thiruvalluvar University Employees’ Association.
“Not a single report has been forwarded to the government or the assembly,” added the retired professor and demanded that the TN governor, who is the chancellor of the universities, constitute an inquiry committee under section 10 of the University Act to probe the malpractices to the tune of several crores of rupees.
CORRUPTION EXPOSED
Objection raised in the audit report for 2010-2011 (audit report dated July 15, 2014): TU report says that scholarship account to the tune of Rs 1,33,291 disbursed to seven SC students and 31 BC/MBC students. But there is no proof/ acknowledgment to confirm the students received the scholarship
Objection raised in the audit report for 2011-2012: Equipment and stationery materials worth 1,27,43,945 from May 2011 and December 2011 procured without floating tenders
Audit objection for 2010-2011: Franking Machine (postal value stamping machine) procured for 1.31 lakh remains idle or not utilised
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