Minister Channi orders departmental probe

CHANDIGARH : A day after HT exposed how a dean at Inder Kumar Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKG-PTU), Kapurthala, received ₹12.6 lakh as reimbursement for travelling 280 km each working way for 16 months (from January 2016 to April 2017), the state government has ordered a probe into the matter.

Punjab technical education minister Charanjit Singh Channi, taking cognisance of the report, has marked the probe to additional chief secretary (ACS) MP Singh, who is holding the charge of technical education department.

“It’s a very serious matter. The gross misuse of government funds will not be allowed at all. It also needs to be investigated why the university hired private vehicles when they have enough money to purchase their own cars. I have been told that the university have surplus number of drivers as well. In such a situation , why private vehicles were hired should also be probed,” said Channi.

He said the ACS has been asked to complete the probe within 15 days.

CONTROVERSIAL PAST

Meanwhile, sources disclosed that despite having a controversial past, NP Singh, who is senior most dean in the university, was “almost set” to get the charge of officiating vice-chancellor. As per the rules, the senior most dean in the university can be given the charge of officiating V-C in the absence of a regular V-C.

NP Singh was dismissed from service in July 2013 on charges of favouring an advertisement firm and approving a non-existent university centre in Nepal. However, the board of governors decided to revoke his dismissal last year, without conducting any probe.