The inquiry committee of Department of Technical Education conducted an inquiry into complaints of corruption and issues related to compliance with the University Act, Statutes, UGC Regulations and principles of good governance against Guru Jambheshwar University of Science and Technology (GJUST) Vice-Chancellor Prof Narsi Ram Bishnoi.
The probe panel, headed by the Chief Vigilance Officer of Technical Education Department, met various stakeholders and complainants during its visit.
During the inquiry, Guru Jambheshwar University Teachers Association (GJUTA) submitted a detailed representation to the committee.
GJUTA president Prof Vinod Goyal told the committee that the issues concerned statutory governance, transparency, service rights of teachers, democratic functioning of university bodies, and compliance with the University Act, Statutes and UGC Regulations.
Prof Goyal said the committee gave adequate opportunity to all stakeholders to present their views, which strengthened teachers’ confidence that their concerns were being considered objectively and fairly.
He hoped the inquiry process would pave the way for a fair resolution of long-standing concerns relating to discrimination, administrative arbitrariness, service-related anomalies and other violations.
GJUTA alleged that appointments of chairpersons and deans in several departments were made in a manner inconsistent with the spirit and provisions of the University Act and Statutes. It referred to appointments in the departments of Mass Communication, Environmental Science and Engineering, Biotechnology, Botany, Religious Studies, Allied Health Sciences, Geography and the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences.
It alleged that in several instances, eligible and senior teachers were overlooked, while in some cases re-employed or contractual personnel were entrusted with important administrative responsibilities, raising questions about statutory compliance.
The association also raised concerns over delays in conducting elections for teacher representatives to Executive Council even after the tenure of previous elected members ended.
GJUTA highlighted cases relating to retired teachers and alleged discriminatory treatment in the release of retirement and pensionary benefits. It said certain retired employees faced prolonged delays in receiving dues, while similarly situated individuals were treated differently.
GJUTA further alleged that cases relating to designation of Senior Professor and promotions under Career Advancement Scheme (CAS) as per UGC Regulations 2018 were not processed uniformly.
It also sought examination of issues relating to allotment of university residences, waiting lists, special category allotments and continued occupation of university accommodation after retirement.
Another complainant, Dr Sandeep Kumar Gupta, who levelled corruption allegations against VC Prof Narsi Ram Bishnoi, said he presented documentary evidence related to irregularities in a previous inquiry. He alleged that the probe report was ‘biased and a deliberate whitewash’.
He further alleged that the State Vigilance Bureau’s inquiry report had never given Prof Bishnoi a clean chit in an earlier matter related to irregularities in consultancy and testing services for water and air samples in various industrial units in Haryana. He claimed the first vigilance report found him guilty of serious offences under the IPC and Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. He alleged the second report was a cover-up, and even that recommended action under Civil Service Rules.
Vice-Chancellor Prof Bishnoi said it was a routine exercise by Department of Technical Education and that the issue had been exaggerated by some people.
