GU VC in dock over ‘tender’ anomalies
Panel finds Parimal Trivedi guilty of shutting down university press and awarding printing of answer sheets worth Rs 1.5 cr to a particular firm
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, March 07, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2011030720110307020921484c38b07a)
A vigilance panel set up by the government to investigate irregularities in awarding tender for printing examination answer sheets to a private printer and shutting down of the university printing press has prima facie found the Gujarat University vice chancellor guilty of flouting the norms.
According to the panel’s findings, the ‘favoured’ printer himself had framed the terms and conditions for the bid, which were incorporated by Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi before the tenders were floated.
Pradeep Prajapati, former dean of arts faculty at the university, had sent letters on April 3, 2010, highlighting the irregularities to the chancellor (the governor of Gujarat); chairman, University Grants Commission; Chief Minister Narendra Modi; Gujarat Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The commissioner of higher education initiated a probe after Prajapati mentioned the misdeeds, corruption and misuse of public money by the university officials in his letter.
A two-member committee of S U Vora, principal of M P Shah Arts and Science College, Surendranagar, and Dr A S Rathod, principal of Gujarat Arts, Science College, Ahmedabad, was set up to look into the allegations.
Prajapati in his letter alleged that the vice chancellor suddenly stopped functioning of the university press without reason on March 24, 2010, to facilitate the printing at a particular printing press.
The authority to open the tender bids for printing answer sheets and khakhi stickers worth Rs 1.5 crore lay with the executive council. However, without consulting the council, the registrar opened the tenders on February 16, last year, the former dean said.
Four parties had filed tenders, of which three were present during the time of bid opening. Wilson Print City, which was later awarded the contract, was not present at the time.
Prajapati alleged that Wilson had written down the terms and conditions to be incorporated in the tender bid on the university’s letter pad to the vice chancellor. Trivedi made notings in the same letter and instructed the registrar to incorporate the same in the tender bids. The tender was awarded to Wilson even though it’s bid was not the lowest, he said.
Committee’s probe
The committee took the statements of Prajapati, university press manager Narendra Patel, in-charge registrar Minesh Shah and the vice chancellor before filing the report.
Narendra Patel states in the report, “The issue of the tender was not on the agenda of the executive council (EC) meeting on February 24. Moreover, the council does not have the powers to shut the printing press. Under the Factory Act, the university, which avails of grant from the state government, cannot shut it. This is violation of the Factory Act.”
Shah told the panel that the authority of closing down the press rests with the EC. However, it was not put before the EC. But, the VC has the powers to shut it, he added.
The panel told the in-charge registrar that he could submit any documents he wanted to furnish in the university’s defence. However, Shah did not submit any.
The vice chancellor in his defence said that the printing machinery had become outdated and expenses were building up. Besides printing bill books, it had no other utility. “If the UGC or government intends to run it, it should provide Rs 1.5 crore and we will have no problem in running it,” Trivedi said.
Regarding the Rs 90 lakh allocated in the budget for the press, Trivedi said that if the press had to be continued for any reason, then where would he get the money from. So, in foresight he had allocated the amount in the budget.
Trivedi maintained that he had the powers to close down the press.
Panel’s findings
After taking into account all the factors, the panel concluded: Prima facie there is truth in Dr Prajapati’s allegations. It is clearly found that the terms and conditions were framed by the party concerned and also incorporated in the tender. Wilson Print City knew that it will bag the tender, so it was absent when the tender bids were opened.
There has been a violation of the university ordinance. Even if the VC has the power to take a decision without putting it before the executive council, he shouldn’t have exercised it. Such a decision should be taken only in extraordinary circumstances.
The VC says that if the government provides Rs 1.5 crore to run the press, he would run it. Trivedi has till date not sent a proposal to the government in this regard. Before shutting down the press, under the Factory Act, the university should have given a notice to the employees, but it has failed to do so.
Parimal Trivedi told Mirror, “The decisions have been taken by the syndicate. The committee members have prepared a report based on half-baked information. The report is baseless and holds no value. We will take legal opinion on it.”
Prajapati told Mirror, “The report clearly shows that corruption has taken place and wrong decisions have been taken. The VC and the registrar should be suspended and an FIR filed against them.”
Yogesh Avasthi
Posted On Monday, March 07, 2011 (http://www.ahmedabadmirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20Latest§id=2&contentid=2011030720110307020921484c38b07a)
A vigilance panel set up by the government to investigate irregularities in awarding tender for printing examination answer sheets to a private printer and shutting down of the university printing press has prima facie found the Gujarat University vice chancellor guilty of flouting the norms.
According to the panel’s findings, the ‘favoured’ printer himself had framed the terms and conditions for the bid, which were incorporated by Vice Chancellor Parimal Trivedi before the tenders were floated.
Pradeep Prajapati, former dean of arts faculty at the university, had sent letters on April 3, 2010, highlighting the irregularities to the chancellor (the governor of Gujarat); chairman, University Grants Commission; Chief Minister Narendra Modi; Gujarat Vigilance Commission and the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The commissioner of higher education initiated a probe after Prajapati mentioned the misdeeds, corruption and misuse of public money by the university officials in his letter.
A two-member committee of S U Vora, principal of M P Shah Arts and Science College, Surendranagar, and Dr A S Rathod, principal of Gujarat Arts, Science College, Ahmedabad, was set up to look into the allegations.
Prajapati in his letter alleged that the vice chancellor suddenly stopped functioning of the university press without reason on March 24, 2010, to facilitate the printing at a particular printing press.
The authority to open the tender bids for printing answer sheets and khakhi stickers worth Rs 1.5 crore lay with the executive council. However, without consulting the council, the registrar opened the tenders on February 16, last year, the former dean said.
Four parties had filed tenders, of which three were present during the time of bid opening. Wilson Print City, which was later awarded the contract, was not present at the time.
Prajapati alleged that Wilson had written down the terms and conditions to be incorporated in the tender bid on the university’s letter pad to the vice chancellor. Trivedi made notings in the same letter and instructed the registrar to incorporate the same in the tender bids. The tender was awarded to Wilson even though it’s bid was not the lowest, he said.
Committee’s probe
The committee took the statements of Prajapati, university press manager Narendra Patel, in-charge registrar Minesh Shah and the vice chancellor before filing the report.
Narendra Patel states in the report, “The issue of the tender was not on the agenda of the executive council (EC) meeting on February 24. Moreover, the council does not have the powers to shut the printing press. Under the Factory Act, the university, which avails of grant from the state government, cannot shut it. This is violation of the Factory Act.”
Shah told the panel that the authority of closing down the press rests with the EC. However, it was not put before the EC. But, the VC has the powers to shut it, he added.
The panel told the in-charge registrar that he could submit any documents he wanted to furnish in the university’s defence. However, Shah did not submit any.
The vice chancellor in his defence said that the printing machinery had become outdated and expenses were building up. Besides printing bill books, it had no other utility. “If the UGC or government intends to run it, it should provide Rs 1.5 crore and we will have no problem in running it,” Trivedi said.
Regarding the Rs 90 lakh allocated in the budget for the press, Trivedi said that if the press had to be continued for any reason, then where would he get the money from. So, in foresight he had allocated the amount in the budget.
Trivedi maintained that he had the powers to close down the press.
Panel’s findings
After taking into account all the factors, the panel concluded: Prima facie there is truth in Dr Prajapati’s allegations. It is clearly found that the terms and conditions were framed by the party concerned and also incorporated in the tender. Wilson Print City knew that it will bag the tender, so it was absent when the tender bids were opened.
There has been a violation of the university ordinance. Even if the VC has the power to take a decision without putting it before the executive council, he shouldn’t have exercised it. Such a decision should be taken only in extraordinary circumstances.
The VC says that if the government provides Rs 1.5 crore to run the press, he would run it. Trivedi has till date not sent a proposal to the government in this regard. Before shutting down the press, under the Factory Act, the university should have given a notice to the employees, but it has failed to do so.
Parimal Trivedi told Mirror, “The decisions have been taken by the syndicate. The committee members have prepared a report based on half-baked information. The report is baseless and holds no value. We will take legal opinion on it.”
Prajapati told Mirror, “The report clearly shows that corruption has taken place and wrong decisions have been taken. The VC and the registrar should be suspended and an FIR filed against them.”
