The corrupt practices in the Berhampur University have once again come to the fore with leaders of the Berhampur University Post-Graduate Students’ Union alleging rampant irregularities by the university authorities in most of the post-Phailin construction and rehabilitation works and purchases.
The students’ union has demanded an impartial and thorough probe either by the Vigilance or the CBI to unearth all the corrupt practices including administrative and fiscal and examination irregularities and nexus between the university authorities and their sycophants and vested groups. The union has further demanded that purchase and installation of streetlights in the campus and purchase of guidebooks for the Distance Education Cell be brought under investigation.
Keeping the students’ demands and subsequent unrest in the campus in view, the university administration has cancelled the second semester examination of various PG departments.Representatives of the students’ union met university Registrar Prof M Padhi and PG Council Chairman-cum-in-charge Vice-Chancellor Prof PK Biswasroy on Friday and discussed on their demands in the absence of regular Vice-Chancellor Prof Deepak Kumar Behera for a solution, but in vain.
In case the university authorities fail to order a Vigilance inquiry into all the irregularities, the students would intensify their agitation further, cautioned students’ union president Bhavanikanta Sahu.Mention may be made that the union had earlier resorted to agitation several times demanding probe of the corrupt practices during last two months, for which the university administration had to cancel the first semester PG examinations, but their demands still remain unheeded.
Union president Sahu said the students are not able to stay in the various PG hostels in the campus, particularly during the post-Phailin period, due to improper and inadequate maintenance of the hostels, irregular water supply, non-availability of uninterrupted internet services, frequent power cuts and increasing insecurity. Even though the current academic session is going to end, the university administration has paid deaf ears to their genuine demands, he alleged.
Though the former Ganjam Collector had assured to provide all assistance and the required infrastructure to the university during the post-Phailing period, nothing has been done on the ground except connecting streetlights after repeated demands of the students, said. He further alleged that lakhs of rupees has been misappropriated in the purchase of streetlights and guidebooks for the DEC students.
Sources in the university administration said Vice-Chancellor Prof Behera is currently not available in the campus, and all problems would be sorted out immediately after his return.Apprehending student agitation, a two-member team nominated by the Syndicate meanwhile has started examining all the papers relating to the purchase of books for the DEC students. The inquiry committee members are senior advocate Sudhansusekhar Pati and the Principal of the Khallikote (Autonomous) College.
Similarly, a number of alleged examination scams brought against the university in the past still remain unattended, sources said. All the allegations about irregular practices and scams are put to dustbin by the university as well as by the Higher Education Department, said a former Professor of the university.
Academicians blame the Higher Education Department and the Chancellor’s office for such frequent student unrests in the campus. Why the Government does not post a senior OAS officer with administrative credibility as the Registrar of the university needs to be probed, said an insider.
While several posts of teachers in the PG departments are lying vacant for years, why the Government and/or the Chancellor’s office are appointing internal faculty members in the regular posts like Registrar and Controller of Examinations is being questioned in the academic circles.
Internal politics, lack of administrative experience and frequent absence of the Vice-Chancellor are attributed to repeated student unrests jeopardising the academic sanctity of the university, said another insider. While the Government recently appointed an IAS officer as the Registrar of the Sambalpur University, the Berhampur University, which always remains in public domain for corrupt practices and student unrests, is being deliberately ignored under the pressure of vested interests, feel academicians.
Teachers against whom there are series of allegations are rewarded with lucrative appointments in the Berhampur University without studying their track records, alleged a former Professor.