[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he audit of the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) brings out more skeletons from the cupboard of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) for misappropriation of funds and manipulating funds collected for relief for the Kashmir flood victims. The Vice Chancellor (VC) Lt.(Retd.) Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah caught for violating Customs rules by collecting and improper management of huge cash and jewellery abroad during his visits.
The CAG findings has pointed out many gross violations of VC and Pro VC in its Audit Report in matters relating to appointments, overlooking the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), University Grants Commission (UGC), AMU Account Code, Statutes, Ordinances of AMU, particularly Finance. The report of nearly a hundred pages lists 58 violations amounting to nearly Rs. 120 crores ($17.9 million) in the financial year 2014-15. We are publishing the relevant two pages from the audit findings at the end of this report. We had already published gross financial bungling by some professors and officials in our previous article dated September 15, 2016.
Para 52, Page 88 of the findings says “….leading to arbitrary decisions by the Vice- Chancellor and Pro Vice Chancellor…… the one day salary donated by University Teachers to AMU Teachers Association for Kashmir Relief Fund was not released to them even after repeated requests but was transferred to the accounts of some private individuals….” along with the funds realized on account of Sir Syed day celebrations of 2014 by AMU students.
The students’ money of Rs.51,78,634 ($77,000) has been transferred to a private Trust, namely Sir Syed Educational Foundation of which the present VC is the lifetime trustee in his personal capacity. The report further emphasizes that this action was in gross violation of the “AMU Act, Account Code and Government of India Finance Rules” and is a clear-cut case of misuse of University money.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]S[/dropcap]uch activity of the present VC , opines the AMU fraternity, indicates the possible nexus between the VC and the private trust. They are also much moved by the inhuman behaviour of the VC that deprived the needy Kashmiri flood victims of their lifesaving emergency benefits at the time of natural calamity.
The University has evaded replying to all the three reminders issued in January 2016 by the CAG, in this connection till date.
The Vice Chancellor Lt.(Retd.) Gen. Zameer Uddin Shah has been accused by the CAG of violating the Customs and Excise tax. Office of the Principal Director of Audit (Central) Lucknow has mentioned in his report 2012-2015 that, the AMU VC has brought cash jewellery and precious stones from abroad without submitting to the Dept of Customs and Excise.
The alumni of AMU living outside India had donated enormously in the form of cash precious stones and jewellery for many purposes to AMU through the present VC since 2012. The donated articles brought to India were auctioned and their proceeds were to have been utilized in the AMU. The CAG has reported that VC has violated the rules of customs and excise in bringing these articles to India.
[dropcap color=”#008040″ boxed=”yes” boxed_radius=”8px” class=”” id=””]T[/dropcap]he CAG reports says “…that these items were brought to the country by the VC without any declaration by the AMU authorities to the Dept of Customs and Excise. Even no proper valuation by Govt approved valuers was done.”
This was done without following proper due procedure, the CAG said. An Audit memo and subsequently three remainders in January 2016 were sent but the University has evaded replying them.
“In view of non reply by the AMU without any cogent reasons and non production of relevant records. ..it seems to be a clear cut case of gross violation of Customs and Excise Act, Reserve Bank guidelines, and other relevant act as also government finance rules and also Act Statutes, Ordinances and Account Code of AMU”, the CAG reported.
The University fraternity is amazed as to how a Lt. General of the Indian Army, the defender of the nation make such gross violations. The VC’s appointment is now challenged by Prashant Bhushan in the Supreme Court, citing that the Army officer Shah lacks the mandatory 10 years academic experience to hold the post of a Vice Chancellor. He was appointed by the UPA Government and Supreme Court has issued notice on the matter.
Will the Union HRD Ministry and possibly the CBI act against the AMU as suggested by the CAG? Or will it forgive in the name of so called secularism? Wasn’t Prime Minister (PM) Modi’s election call “development for all and appeasement of none?” Will the PM walk the talk?
Some pages from the findings of the CAG:
Note:
1. The conversion rate used in this article is 1 USD = 67.02 Rupees.
2. Text in Blue points to additional data on the topic.
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What was the going rate earlier to hush up such cases?
very shameful on the part of the VC to have not replied to the Audit Objections.
A Lt. General (retd) of the Indian Army shouldn’t forget the Army culture post retirement.
sometimes, Genes over-ride the culturally imbibed ethics.
quite disgraceful
This University is symbol of India’s pseudo-secularism. Total violator of norms. As money is pouring, they are quarreling to share the loot. Total communal university