The Hynniewtrep Youth Council (HYC) has demanded a thorough enquiry against NEHU executive engineer Jose Cherian who had been indicted by the CBI for gross violation of procedures related to tendering of various works in NEHU.
In a statement issued today, the HYC education cell said that the original note sheet signed by Cherian should be sent for immediate forensic examination.
It also expressed surprise that Cherian has been allowed to continue in his post by Prof. Prabha Shankar Shukla, the beleaguered vice chancellor of NEHU.
“In complete disregard to CBI findings that Jose Cherian has caused substantial financial loss to the university, the vice chancellor seemingly remains unmoved to follow the decision of the university in initiating action decided by the Executive Council of the university,” the HYC said.
It also pointed out that the NEHU Executive Council after going through the CBI inquiry report has directed the university to impose a major penalty on Cherian since a separate university level inquiry committee’s report finding him guilty of causing financial loss to the tune of Rs 10 lakh was accepted by the Executive Council headed by Prof. Shukla himself.
“But till date, the decision of the Executive Council to serve him (Cherian) charge-sheet and then keep him out of office till the charges are finally adjudicated hasn’t been implemented by the vice chancellor,” the HYC education cell said.
It also said that Cherian, taking full advantage of the failure of the NEHU vice chancellor, continued in the office and his very presence has resulted in much graver tampering of official documents related to construction works.
According to the HYC, the executive engineer acted in a prejudicial manner to grant contracts to some preferred tenderers violating extant government norms.
It also mentioned that the file wherein Cherian mentioned his following of the CPWD manual now stands tampered with by him as he has applied white ink on his earlier note giving an impression as if no regulation existed to select the first among the lowest equal bidders.
