Students' body urges CM for probe
The Biju Patnaik Students' Association (BPSA), a body of engineering diploma and degree students, has accused the Biju Patnaik University of Technology (BPUT) authorities of violating its own inter-college transfer policy in order to show undue favour to a particular private engineering college group and sought Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik's intervention in the issue.
In a letter to the Chief Minister, BPSA convener Somesh Mahapatra has alleged that there is an unholy nexus between the BPUT authorities and some colleges under the Gandhi group of institutions to facilitate transfer of 10 students, who are in the 2nd year of their undergraduate programme, from the GIET, Bhubaneswar to the Gandhi Engineering College, Bhubaneswar in gross violation of the existing policy, which is applicable to all engineering colleges in the State.
After a media expose, the BPUT had decided to impose a ban on the inter-college transfer of students within 50 km radius on May 7 this year. The decision was taken in the wake of allegations of irregular inter-college transfer of students for admission, irrespective of ranks, and mismanagement in the technical and management colleges.
It had also been decided to put restrictions on the inter-college transfer for admission on health grounds and it was said that only five students in each department would be allowed to seek transfer in a year on health grounds.
"This entire process was taken against the existing rule of transfer. While the policy states that a maximum of five students from each branch can be transferred to other colleges every year, it seems all private college and management colleges are not looking into this aspect and by paying huge lump sum amount to BPUT higher officials they are tweaking the system as per their mercy," said the BPSA letter.
Mahapatra claimed that the association has been able to collect clinching evidence in support of its allegations in the form of a recorded video footage and audio clips that show BPUT officials taking gratifications and partying with senior officials of some private colleges.
The letter also accused NIC officials of foul play. "During our investigation, we found that NIC officials are also showing favour to some specific colleges and sharing the students' data as well as manipulating the system to provide benefit to one group," said Mahapatra, adding that all the evidences, including a DVD, had been sent to the Chief Minister's Office, the office of the ADG, Crime Branch and the offices of the Chief Justice of the Odisha High Court and the Chief Justice of India seeking an independent probe into the allegations against the BPUT and due audit of the concerned private engineering colleges.