Chancellor asks VC to act against erring officials: Misleading info submitted to HC

S C Jamir, Maharashtra Governor and Chancellor of Rashtrsant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University, has directed the Vice-Chancellor Dr S N Pathan to initiate appropriate action following a complaint by activist Prakash Bansod charging the RTMNU with submitting false and imcomplete information before the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court.

Bansod had filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) on the basis of audit report which had unearthed several procedural irregularities and indicated misappropriation of funds by several officials of University. In the PIL Bansod had raised several issues including misappropriation of students money worth Rs 7.34 lakh from Nelson Mandela hostel for foreign students. The RTMNU in its affidavit refuted allegations and claimed that Rs 7.34 lakh was recovered from the erring officials. Based on this affidavit, HC had disposed of the PIL and expressed satisfaction that appropriate steps were initiated by the University against three erring employees of Nelson Mandela Hostel who were found guilty in misappropriating Rs 7.34 lakh. Bansod then sought information under Right to Information (RTI) about details of recovery only to receive a shocking reply that the case of misappropriation was pending with the sessions court and efforts to recover the money would be made only after case was decided. This plea of ‘no recovery since matter is sub-judice’ was contrary to information furnished before the High Court on affidavit, Bansod stated in his complaint to Chancellor. Bansod who has exposed several shortcomings in the functioning of Nagpur University, then dashed of a letter to the Chancellor requesting him to initiate stern action against the erring officials for submitting false information to the HC thus misleading the court which in good faith disposed of the PIL believing the veracity of averments made on sworn affidavit. Bansod rued that Chancellor instead of himself initiating the action against RTMNU bosses, asked the VC to take action. Infact this was the fit case for the Chancellor to take corrective action and pull up the erring officials, he opined.