Manipur University in Dire Straits - (Part -2)
MU authority dishonours RTI Act; Provide false information in connection with expenditure of 105 Indian Science Congress
Source: IT News
Imphal, January 23 2020:
Information sought through Right to Information Act, 2015 regarding the expenditures of various set ups for conducting of the 105 Indian Science Congress held at Manipur University from March 16 to March 20, 2018, has provided false information by the CPIO of the Manipur University namely T.Shantikumar Singh (Deputy Registrar) MU .
A reply in connection with the queries regarding the expenditure sent to the activist on November 18, 2019, said that he could provide expenditure of Indian Science Congress catering service and Accommodations of the delegate.
As provided by him, the MU Administration paid Rs.5,07,231/- (Five Lakh Seven Thousand two hundred and thirty one) on January 1, 2019 through electronic transfer to M/S Babina Health Care & Hospitality Pvt.
Ltd, Imphal.
For Accommodation, a sum of Rs.53,77,945/- (fifty three lakhs seventy seven thousand nine hundred and forty five) has been paid to M/S Gazal Caterers, Faridabad on March 19 , 2019 through electronic money transfer.
The information was provided in written on November 18, 2019 .
He added that the MU administration does not have documents of other expenditures.
Imphal Times special team when investigated over the matter found that the CPIO of the Manipur University is not providing the correct information to the RTI activist.
To the finding of the Imphal Times, total amount allotted to 13 firms for catering, decoration, lighting , stage etc.
was Rs.10,40,89,174.60/- ( Ten Crore forty lakhs eighty nine thousand one hundred seventy four and sixty paisa) .
Of the total expenditures 30% (Rs.1,93,56,509/- ( Rupees one crore ninety three lakh fiftysix thousand five hundred and nine) has been sanctioned on March 1, 2018, after approval by the meeting of the 105 Indian Science Congress Purchase & Works Committee held on February 28, 2018, .
The committee approved 13 (Thirteen) firms for execution of various work.
Among the 13 firm M/S Gazal Caterers has been approved for payment of Rs.2,47,80000.00/- .
The firm was paid Rs.25, 00,000/- (Twenty five lakhs) contrary to the reply by CPIO, provided with the acknowledgement of Sandhayarani Ningthoujam , Finance Officer MU and Heigrujam Medha Devi, Project Cashier, MU.
The reply about paying Rs.53,77,945/- to M/S Babina Health Care & Hospitality Pvt Ltd, Imphal for Accommodation by the same CPIO is also a misleading information to the Central Information Commission, as there is no name as M/S Babina Health Care & Hospitality Pvt Ltd among the list of 13 firms approved for implementation of the 105 Indian Science Congress.
Central Information Commission is considered as a fool's statutory body to the Manipur University authorities as they provided false and misleading information to the citizens which was sought through Right to Information Act , 2015 .
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