By TwoCircles.net Staff Reporter,
Hyderabad: The tussle between senor administrative staffs of English and Foreign Languages University is turning uglier by da with the suspension of Deputy Registrar (Finance) T. S. Rasool Saheb on Tuesday morning on a ‘partial report of an inquiry committee’ for his code of conduct. His supporters, however, claim that Rasool Saheb was targeted for cooperating in a CAG investigation into allegations of misappropriation of funds by the University administration.
A standoff between Rasool Saheb and EFLU administration began on January 2 when University Registrar P. Madhavan on the order of Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunaina Singh locked the office of Mr. Rasool and confiscated all his files. The order stated ‘logistical reasons’ for confiscating Mr. Rasool’s office. In the meantime Mr. Rasool was allotted another room for his office work.
Former Deputy Registrar (Finance) didn’t keep quite on the administrative action but he immediately lodged a complaint with local police station and state minorities commission against EFLU administration for ‘harassment by illegal means’.
In his complaint, the copy of which is with TCN, Mr. Rasool Saheb claimed that he is being targeted by EFLU administration as he cooperated in the matter of financial issues which Central team of Controller and Auditor General has put under scanner for investigation. He added that he was only doing his duty as Deputy Registrar (Finance) of University.
State Minorities Commission even issued notice to Registrar on Mr. Rasool’s complaint, but has not got any response from the administration so far. The matter was then posted to 24 January.
A transaction audit team of CAG is currently scrutinizing annual audits of the University after receiving complaints of misappropriation of funds by higher officials in the University. Sources in the University administration informed TCN that CAG has got several documents which would nail discrepancies in financial matters.
It includes construction of solar power plant without calling tenders, certain irregularities in conversion of Central Provident Funds to General Provident Funds of retired employees, hiking of basic pay of senior administrative members and moreover personal expenditure of vice-chancellor including her HRA and Phone bills. Some of those files and information on ongoing investigation was also leaked to the press causing embarrassment for the administration.
A source in the Registrar department told TCN that University administration fumed over crucial financial audits getting into CAG and media net and immediately suspected Rasool Saheb for acting as whistle blower, charges he denies.
When TCN contacted Vice Chancellor Prof. Sunaina Singh she refused to comment citing ongoing CAG investigation as reason. University Registrar P. Madhavan also refused to respond on the suspension or on the charges levelled by Rasool Saheb.
Mr. Rasool Saheb had joined EFLU in 2009 as Deputy Finance Officer on direct central Government appointment after serving in State Council for Higher Education. However on 26 November 2013 his independent finance officer post was redesigned as Deputy Registrar (Finance) as soon as the CAG investigation began.
When TCN contacted Rasool Saheb, he refused talking saying he is feeling dejected and does not want to talk to the press.
After his office was confiscated on 2 January, his health reportedly deteriorated due to "humiliation" and hence he went on sick leave.
A confidante of Rasool, however, told TCN that he has been left broken by University’s action, adding, “He was not even called once to explain his position in inquiry committee. Now the suspension letter by university administration states that he has been suspended with immediate effect basing on the partial report of that inquiry committee.”