While an approval to initiate preliminary inquiry by the CBI into NEHU construction scam was approved by the university, apprehensions loom large as the green signal was raised late.
Those interested in justice have waited for over a year for the CBI to step in and reveal all the facts, but have been disappointed because NEHU management took so long to give permission to the CBI. Sources stated that in the interregnum, it is likely that the erring officials of the university attempted to tamper with evidences.
Sources informed Highland Post that NEHU concurred its approval to CBI to initiate a preliminary inquiry against Jose Cherian, the Executive Engineer under “Section 17A of Prevention of Corruption Act (Amendment 2018), as per the resolution adopted in its Executive Council on June 28, 2021.
While the Chief Vigilance Officer (CVO) of an organization works as a link between investigating agencies and the organization sources alleged that documents are in custody of Cherian or Prof. Henry Lamin who is the CVO and in both the cases it has a very high risk of being tampered.
Sources revealed that the tender, on ‘replacement of feeder pillars in hostels and residential areas’ at an estimated cost of Rs 64.86 lakh, was approved for awarding by Prof Lamin in his capacity as Vice Chancellor, when Prof SK Srivastava was out of station in December, 2019.
“The work was awarded by him in collusion with others, in total disregard to the resolution adopted in 130th Building Committee. The building committee wanted that the matter of work order be first presented before it, before it is issued by an officer, as no officer was permitted by the committee to issue work order in the concerned case,” sources said.
Furthermore, as the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) prohibits appointment of a person as CVO, who has been involved in tendering process, those concerned over the goings-on in NEHU feels that continuation of Prof Lamin and Cherian in their offices is prejudicial and detrimental to inquiry.
Moreover, eye brows have been raised in the corridors of the university as the Executive Engineer allegedly favoured the same contractor, BD Marbaniang in works involving facelift of community hall with bamboo wall cladding etc, the tender that amounted to Rs 62, 97,302.
Sources said that Marbaniang submitted his documents relating to his professional tax which were not in his name even as it is a mandatory document in securing the tender.
“The contractor has been favoured so much, while in certain other tender cases, the minor mistakes in salutation, putting Shri in place of Smti have been the reason for rejection of tenders,” sources stated.
Further, the process of evaluation of technical documents too cast a shadow of doubt on the evaluation process of bids. Pointing out that as the E-tenders are invited under Two Cover System of Government of India, sources alleged that financial bid was opened just after 30 minutes of opening of first envelope containing technical bid documents. “How can an individual evaluate the technical documents within half an hour unless he is working prejudicially?” they questioned.
Sources further revealed that the Executive Engineer was appointed on August 19, 2016 to look after the office of the University Engineer as a stop gap arrangement by the university. However, he has been exercising all powers not delegated to by the Executive Council wherein he even rejected the technical and financial bids which he has no authority to do so.
Ironically, the sources said that while the Executive Council of the University has decided to advertise the post of University Engineer on deputation, this was in total disregard to Recruitment Rules for the said post as a person on deputation can only be taken in if there is no response to direct recruitment advertisement.
