Bangalore University is experiencing a fund crunch, particularly as the trifurcation process is all set to be rolled out for the 2017-18 academic year. But the university is not limiting its spending. In fact, it seems to be doing just the opposite.
On Wednesday, the university’s syndicate — the highest decision making body for the varsity — decided to procure empty marks cards at a cost of ₹36.5 each from a single supplier. This is more than 18 times the normal cost.
The university normally spends ₹1.93 for each marks card. Hence, the move to procure them for ₹36.5 (excluding taxes and transportation cost) a piece from Mysore Sales International Limited (MSIL) has raised several eyebrows.
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M. Muniraju, who is the in-charge vice-chancellor, said that the decision would be reviewed and recalled in the next syndicate meeting. University authorities decided to take up the purchase on instructions from the Higher Education Department, which insists that they procure marks card from MSIL. The university has already written to the MSIL placing an order for 8 lakh marks cards, 1 lakh degree certificates and a thousand rank certificates as well as gold medal certificates.
One section of officials point out that this move violates the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurement (KTPP) Act, as no tender has been called for. Another section insists that the university can make an exception for MSIL since it is a government enterprise.
M. Shankar Reddy, Registrar (Evaluation) of the varsity, defended the syndicate’s decision. The new marks card are of better quality, waterproof and had additional security features, like being tear-resistant and tamper-proof, he explained.
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The decision of the varsity has ruffled several feathers with a special officer from the exam section tendering his resignation on Thursday citing ‘academic reasons’.