RGNUL Under Govt Scanner Following CAG Reports On Financial Irregularities

Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab (RGNUL) is under the scanner of the Ministry of Higher Education, Government of Punjab after numerous financial and administrative irregularities were highlighted in RGNUL's Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) reports from 2006-16, 2016-17 and 2017-18. The state's Higher Education Department has sought for an explanation from the Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Paramjit Singh Jaswal for the discrepancies found in the report amongst other things. The University, which was established in 2006, has been mired in multiple controversies since Dr. Jaswal assumed his office as the Vice-Chancellor in 2011. Sources indicate that Dr. Jaswal may have tendered his resignation to the Chancellor of RGNUL, Mr. Justice Ravi Shankar Jha in light of the inquiry initiated by Sh. Tript Rajinder Singh Bajwa (Minister). However, he was unavailable for a comment on the same. Financial Irregularities It was reported last Friday by "The Tribune" that the Office of Directorate, Education Department (Colleges) has sought for details regarding the spending of the various grants by the University. Additionally, details of expenses on electricity, water, conveyance, travel etc. have also been demanded. On 31st August, 2019, the alumni of the University had sent an anonymous letter to Mr. Anurag Verma, the then Principal Secretary of Higher Education, Punjab, citing various grievances with Dr. Jaswal ranging from "erroneous personal use of official vehicles" to "appointment of the Registrar in non-compliance with the RGNUL Act, 2006", and sought for an immediate inquiry. The letter sought for a "forensic audit" into the conduct of Dr. Jaswal and claimed that the corruption in the University is "deep rooted and well-hidden". It is to be noted at this point that as per the RTI Act, the full financial statements of the University have to be published on the website. However, there has been abject failure of adherence of this obligation since the inception of the University. Sources say that the duty was shirked and anyone seeking to peruse the statements was asked to see them personally as "the information is voluminous and only available in paper form". However, it should be noted that these Financial Statements (a copy of which is with Live Law India), are typed out on a computer and not handwritten, and hence cannot be "only available in paper form". As of today, the financial statements have still not been uploaded on the website of the University. There have also been allegations that funds have been disbursed without inviting tenders, in contravention of the RGNUL Regulations. For instance, Rs. 1.7 lakh was spent on the 2017 RGNUL National Moot Competition. However, despite the RGNUL Regulations mandating tenders, there had been no tender inviting bids for the same. In the CAG report, it was stated that the tendering process was done away with in order to conclude the exercise swiftly. Though the University stated that the lowest quotation had been accepted, the CAG report itself mentions that there was no evidence or paper trail of the same. LiveLaw was also informed that though floodlights were installed on the sports field in the RGNUL campus, however, there was no invitation for the tender on the website of the University; all tenders are otherwise mentioned on the website. The CAG report emphasizes another important point that work of construction of an Auditorium building worth Rs. 9.99 crore had been allotted to an ineligible contractor. The question regarding "unfruitful expenditure of Rs. 1.25 crore" for the construction of the Registrar's residence which has since been converted into a VVIP guest house, has also been raised in the report. It was also noted that RGNUL's building plan had not been approved by Punjab Urban Planning and Development Authority. It is further highlighted in the CAG report that there has been a denial of intended benefits to the students under the Central Sector Scholarship Scheme of "Top Class Education for SC and ST students" for the year 2016-2017. Despite four students applying for the scholarship, there had been no disbursement of the funds and the eligible students were deprived of the intended benefits of the scheme. The University responded that the grant was to be released by the Government into the accounts of the beneficiaries and the information regarding the same was given to the University by the Ministry accordingly. No Tender for Procurement and Installation of CCTVs In March, 2019, a five-day protest had erupted in the campus wherein students had demanded revocation of arbitrary suspension of six students, an inquiry into the conduct of Administrative Officer Capt. SP Singh (Retd.), formation of a RGNUL Student Bar Association (still not approved) and equal in-time for all students. In order to restore normalcy, the Punjab Advocate-General intervened and, after prolonged deliberations by a committee, the...

RGNUL Under Govt Scanner Following CAG Reports On Financial Irregularities

Radhika Roy

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