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KOKRAJHAR: The All Bodo Students' Union (ABSU) on Friday alleged that there had been misappropriation and massive irregularities in the Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar, committed by incumbent Registrar Chaitali Brahma.
In a press meet held at Bodofa House on Friday, the assistant general secretary of ABSU, Dinesh Brahma said that Chaitali Brahma, the incumbent Registrar of the Central Institute of Technology (CIT), Kokrajhar, was not without abiding by the rules and regulations of the institute since the last 15 years for reasons best known to her. He said she had destroyed the basic motto of establishing the institute, status, standard and reputation of the institute.
"Her corrupt practices and unprofessional leadership have deprived the students, scholars and local community from getting access to facilities that are required for their holistic development," he said, adding that before getting appointed as the Registrar of CIT Kokrajhar, Chaitali Brahma worked in the department of Geography at Kokrajhar Government College as a contractual employee. Her eligibility and appointment as the Registrar of CIT Kokrajhar was questionable, he said, adding that the minutes of the meeting concerning the establishment of CIT at Kokrajhar held on October 23, 2006 at Bodoland Guest House, Guwahati, decided that initially teachers from Kokrajhar College, IIT Guwahati, Institute under Director of Technical Education, Assam and NERIST would be engaged on deputation and recruitment process would be initiated. Whereas, the present Registrar (founder Registrar Chaitali Brahma) got appointed as Registrar-cum-finance officer of CIT in 2006 without any interview being held during that time.
Brahma said that large-scal financial anomalies and irregularities were committed by Chaitali Brahma. The reason might be direct funding from New Delhi to CIT account. The ABSU leader said, "As CIT is Centrally Funded State University (as per MoS), the funding to CIT from the Ministry should have been routed through BTC to have control over CIT administration and financial supervision. But today, all the funding from Ministry is directed to the CIT Account while by-passing the BTC."
He alleged the results were anomalies in appointment. Without advertising or appointing the Executive Engineer (Sectioned post), they have appointed one Praveen Kumar of New Delhi as Project Consultant Engineer on 30/08/2017 by paying much higher salary – Rs 1,50,000- and who subsequently was upgraded to Chief Project Engineer on 13/10/2017 (without conducting interview).
Brahma further alleged that a number of projects were allotted without following proper formalities. He also alleged anomalies in salaries of the employees and that CIT Kokrajhar had built up liabilities worth more than Rs 40 crore. "The ABSU suspects that there has been huge misappropriation of fund and misadministration," he added.
The student leader alleged the Central Institute of Technology, (CIT) Kokrajhar was one of the top technical institutes in the Bodoland Territorial Region that had been set up to shape the future of the students and scholars of the region in particular and the country in general. The ABSU made it clear that it would not remain as a mute spectator when anomalies and corrupt practices were going on in the prestigious institute.
The ABSU demanded that a committee should be set up by the State Government under the supervision of the Chief Minister to investigate and take action against the Registrar as per the available laws and the rules of the institute within a period of 30 days. The ABSU also demanded the release of all the pending bills of contractors after proper scrutiny, an investigation by the Bureau of Investigation (Economic Offences), Assam on the utilization of fund by the CIT Kokrajhar, and removal of Chaitali Brahma if found guilty after enquiry and investigation. The union warned that it will organize a democratic agitation in support of their demands.
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