UGC defies CVC, closes graft case against official

NEW DELHI: Prime Minister NarendraModi’s call for probity and transparency has not reached the University Grants Commission. In complete disregard to guidelines of the Central Vigilance Commission, UGC has closed all cases against one of its joint secretary Manju Singh, an accused in the AICTE scam, without seeking mandated advice from CVC.
On Friday, UGC in its meeting of the full commission took up the report of inquiry officer S Sathyam and accepted it in totality.Sathyam has cleared her of all charges.
One UGC member said, “Commission’s decision is violation of CVC guidelines and could attract severe action against UGC officials.” Explaining the sequence, he said, whenever any reference comes from CVC, the organization – in this case UGC – has to seek first-stage advice from CVC. UGC did not take that advice despite HRD ministry also having written to the commission to do that. Few months back, CVC asked UGC if the first stage advice was taken or not. On finding out that it was not done, CVC regretted UGC’s stand and asked it to take second-stage advice. “Sathyam committee report should have been placed in the full commission for seeing second-stage advice from CVC. UGC had a commitment towards CVC. Instead of that the full commission considered Sathyam report and dropped all charges against her,” UGC member said. A senior commission official also said, “UGC action will definitely create an outrage in the HRD ministry and CVC.”
In 2010, HRD ministry had given approval for prosecution to CBI against Manju Singh who was regional director of AICTE’s south west regional office in Bangalore. CBI had said that O K Sreedharan, chairman of Kollengode Educational and Charitable Trust (KECT) be also prosecuted. Sreedharan, the promoter of Palakkad Institute of Science and Technology (PISAT), as per the CBI report not only failed to fulfill the requirement under AICTE norms but also allegedly bribed Manju Singh.
The entire case relates to AICTE approval for opening of PISAT. The application by KECT was found inadequate on many counts including availability of funds. On being told of this, KECT, CBI says, allegedly produced bogus receipts of expenditure being made on purchase of books and computers. AICTE asked Sreedharan to appear before its hearing committee. Again, AICTE issued a letter of deficiency.
A month later, KECT wrote that all the deficiencies had been dealt with. Sreedharan was asked to appear before the hearing committee again. He came to Delhi with Anil Kumar, KECT treasurer, and appeared before the committee. After the meeting, CBI said, Manju Singh asked Sreedharan to come to Khan Market where she was allegedly paid Rs 2 lakh. The next day, letter of intent was issued to Sreedharan to set up the institute.