Probe ordered into corruption charges against AAU V-C

Vinodchandra Bhatt,former president of the AAU administrative staff association,had filed a complaint pointing out seven discrepancies in appointment and the promotions of the assistant professors in the university.

According to him,all rules,including that of the Indian Council for Agriculture Research (ICAR),University Grants Commission (UGC) and university,have been flouted by the vice-chancellor.

“A lot of money has exchanged hands in the appointments of assistant professors. It has also reached the top bosses in the state government to remain silent,” said Bhatt.

The complaint was instituted at the special court on September 14 and heard the next day. “The judge ordered the inquiry under Section 156 (3) of the CrPC,” said Vijay Kotecha,lawyer for the complainant.

Citing instances of irregularities from the complaint,Bhatt said AAU recruited a total of 20 assistant professors without the National Eligibility Test (NET) certificate,which is mandatory for appointment as assistant professor or equivalent for PhD students. “First the university asked them to complete NET during probation,then they were given extension up to three years for clearing NET. This,even when their contract says their recruitment will stand cancelled if they are not able to clear NET,” he said.

Around 82 agriculture officers were promoted as assistant professors,some of them even without NET certificate. This cannot happen without under-the-table-transaction,alleged Bhatt,adding that as per rules,there is no provision for promotion.

The university promoted around 32 assistant professors in 2008 and 50 in 2009 in violation of rules,states the complaint.

He further said that for the last five years,physics is not being taught at the university,even as its professor draws the salary between Rs 35,000 and Rs 50,000 per month. In fact,another professor has been appointed to teach the subject.

English,which is part of just one course,has three professors drawing a total salary of

Rs 1.5 lakh per month. The university further appointed another professor.

Dr Rajendra Swaroop,55,(termed as a relative of the V-C) was appointed as research associate at the Chharodi Research Centre of AAU,and allotted university quarters. According to Bhatt,ICAR has an age limit of 35 years for research associate and there is no provision for providing residential quarters for them.

Earlier,Bhatt had complained about this to the government four times. “Higher ups in the government are also part of this. Therefore,no action was taken,” he alleged.

While the registrar could not be contacted,Varshneya refused to comment on the matter saying,“it’s a legal matter,so I don’t want to speak on it”.