New Delhi: After receiving complaints of financial irregularities against the principal of Delhi government-funded Bhagini Nivedita College (BNC), Delhi’s Deputy Chief Minister-cum Education Minister Manish Sisodia on Wednesday asked the Directorate of Higher Education to audit the college’s accounts.
Sisodia ordered the audit after receiving several complaints from stakeholders like students, parents, teachers, etc alleging misuse of funds by the college principal for the hiring of cars, buying unnecessary items not required in the educational institution, etc. According to a report by The Indian Express, Sisodia wrote to the Secretary Higher Education, Directorate of Higher Education, and ordered an immediate audit of the accounts of the last two years, preferably by a CAG empanelled auditor.
However, Higher Education Secretary Manisha Saxena said that she had not received the letter yet, but added that the department had earlier asked 12 Delhi government-funded colleges for salary bills and recruitment details.
The Indian Express quoted Charu Sharma, Principal, BNC as saying that he is shocked to hear this and didn’t know about it. “I only took over as principal in April last year. Since the last one year, we have seen an increase in academic seminars and student activities. The college should be known for that rather than all this.”
Moreover, the BNC governing body chairman Pavan Sharma also claimed to have received complaints against the principal but did not divulge any details.
This is not the first instance for the principal of BNC to face allegations of financial and administrative irregularities. Former principal Purbi Saikia had also faced similar allegations of irregularities in faculty appointments, harassment of staff, misuse of staff car, and bribery. Following which the college GB had suspended her.