Bihar Governor made unauthorised trips, illegal appointments: Report

An inspection report on the Governor's Secretariat by the Principal Accountant General (Audit), Bihar, reportedly accuses Governor Devanand Konwar of illegally appointing vice-chancellors in six universities, going on unauthorised travel incurring expenses of Rs 1.84 lakh, making unauthorised payments of Rs 40.19 lakh due to irregular postings at the Bihar Niwas in Delhi and of misutilising discretionary fund of Rs 3.28 lakh.

The report lists 32 irregularities on the part of the Governor Secretariat between February 2009 and March 2012. Konwar assumed charge in June 2009. Among the questions the report raises is purchase of i-Pad and i-Phone.

The inspection report is the second stage of preparing a PAG report. The Governor's office will get another chance to submit its reply before the report is finalised by January 2013 to be presented to the Bihar Assembly before the close of the current financial year.

Raj Bhavan confirmed the inspection report and said it was busy filing "satisfactory replies". Bihar PAG R B Sinha also confirmed the matter, though adding that "it was under process and cannot be taken as the final report".

Regarding appointment of Patna University vice-chancellor last year, the PAG report says: "...An ineligible applicant, who very much knew that he did not fulfill the eligibility criterion for the post of V-C (came in) through the collusion of senior officials of the Governor's Secretariat... and has been drawing his salary from funds, substantially contributed from the consolidated fund of the state."

While special secretary to the Governor claimed in its reply that consultations were made with the Bihar Chief Minister before the V-C's appointment, "no document" was made available.

The report also raises questions about appointments of V-Cs at BRA Bihar University, Muzaffarpur; MMH Arabic and Persian University, Patna; J P University, Chhapra; KSD Sansprit University, Darbhanga; and B N Mandal University, Madhepura.

... contd.

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