JORHAT, April 29 � Reacting to the allegations of corruption, the Vice Chancellor of Assam Agricultural University (AAU), Dr Kamal Malla Bujarbaruah today categorically denied any anomalies at his level in the university by saying that the audit authorities concerned of the Central and State Governments did not find any anomalies in the utilisation of funds, which were allotted for the university during his first tenure since 2009.
According to him, the Audited Utilisation Certificates (AUC) were submitted by the AAU to the Central Government with detailed expenditure reports on the Centrally-funded projects for the last five years and no reports of irregularities were made by the office of the Controller and Accountant General (CAG) which could indicate any anomalies in the university.
He simply said that out of Rs 200 crore alleged to have been misappropriated, Rs 110 crore was spent on the salaries of the employees of the Centrally-funded projects during the last five years, while around Rs 50 crore was spent on the Dhubri Agricultural College, Lakhimpur Veterinary College, Fishery College and Home Science and other colleges.
�Besides, a sum of around Rs 20 crore was given for equipment purchased by teachers under different Centrally-funded projects and an amount of about Rs 15 crore was allotted for expenditures related to farmer, which was spent by the Directorates of Research and Extension,� said Dr Bujarbaruah.
Refusing to comment on the motive behind raising allegations and ordering a probe against him, the VC said that the matter is still sub judice in the Gauhati High Court. It is to be mentioned that a few days ago, the High Court issued a stay order on the probe in response to his petition against the probe order issued by the Chancellor.
Asked about the reason behind challenging the Chancellor�s order for a probe against him, Dr Bujarbaruah said that the probe order was not in conformity with the Assam Agricultural University Act, 1968, and therefore, he had to challenge it through the legal procedure.
