New Delhi, Apr 28 (UNI) Financial, administrative and academic violations at the Shimla-based Indian Institute of Advanced Study cited by a government appointed inquiry committee nine months ago have yet to be taken to acted on, a former Fellow charged today.
If action on the findings does not ensue, it will be a validation of corruption-- ''an affirmation that we have a right to be corrupt,'' Delhi University Lecturer Prem Singh told a news conference.
''This is corruption done by intellectuals,'' and raises the question why money ''is not spent according to the norms laid down,'' Dr Singh said.
The IIAS was set up in October 1964 as a residential research facility and inaugurated by then President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to pursue ''a free and creative inquiry into the themes and problems of life and thought.'' Dr Singh said it was on his petition in June 2004 that Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh appointed a One-man Review Committee headed by D Bandhopadhyaya to inquire into the Institute affairs.
Over the next year, the inquiry confirmed the charges of corruption and saffronisation against former IIAS Chairman G C Pandey and Director Bhuvan Chandel in four interim reports and a final report in July 2005, Dr Singh said.
The wrongs listed included spending lakhs of rupees on seminars with no publication to show, disbursing grants or promoting research with sectarian purposes.
The government examined the report in detail, accepted its findings and forwarded them to IIAS Chairman Bhalchandra Mungekar asking him to take ''necessary action... immediately.'' Prof Mungekar instead appointed another committee led by Prof Mushirul Hassan of Jamia Millia Islamia to study the findings.
But he ''has not taken any action on the Report till date,'' Dr Singh said, adding he has continued to petition the HRD Minister and others.
Asked what was proposed next, Dr Singh said perhaps a Public Interest Litigation was the answer-- to be filed in a few weeks.
UNI MJ NK KN1900
If action on the findings does not ensue, it will be a validation of corruption-- ''an affirmation that we have a right to be corrupt,'' Delhi University Lecturer Prem Singh told a news conference.
''This is corruption done by intellectuals,'' and raises the question why money ''is not spent according to the norms laid down,'' Dr Singh said.
The IIAS was set up in October 1964 as a residential research facility and inaugurated by then President Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan to pursue ''a free and creative inquiry into the themes and problems of life and thought.'' Dr Singh said it was on his petition in June 2004 that Human Resource Development Minister Arjun Singh appointed a One-man Review Committee headed by D Bandhopadhyaya to inquire into the Institute affairs.
Over the next year, the inquiry confirmed the charges of corruption and saffronisation against former IIAS Chairman G C Pandey and Director Bhuvan Chandel in four interim reports and a final report in July 2005, Dr Singh said.
The wrongs listed included spending lakhs of rupees on seminars with no publication to show, disbursing grants or promoting research with sectarian purposes.
The government examined the report in detail, accepted its findings and forwarded them to IIAS Chairman Bhalchandra Mungekar asking him to take ''necessary action... immediately.'' Prof Mungekar instead appointed another committee led by Prof Mushirul Hassan of Jamia Millia Islamia to study the findings.
But he ''has not taken any action on the Report till date,'' Dr Singh said, adding he has continued to petition the HRD Minister and others.
Asked what was proposed next, Dr Singh said perhaps a Public Interest Litigation was the answer-- to be filed in a few weeks.
UNI MJ NK KN1900
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