After receiving complaints of financial irregularities against the principal of Delhi-government funded Bhagini Nivedita College (BNC), the deputy CM Manish Sisodia asked the Directorate of Higher Education to inspect accounts of the same.
The minister wrote to the Secretary Higher Education that “These complaints have come from different stakeholders like students, parents, teachers, etc. These allege financial irregularities in tendering processes, hiring of a car for the principal, buying of unnecessary items not needed in an educational institution, etc.” Further, “Directorate of Higher Education should immediately get the accounts of the last two years audited, preferably by a CAG impaneled auditor.”
The Secretary of Higher Education, Manisha Saxena mentioned that she had not yet received the letter. Also, she stated that the department previously had asked 12 colleges which are funded by the Delhi government for salary bills and recruitment details.
The BNC principal Charu Sharma responded with shock. He said that “I’m shocked to hear this. I 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.”
In addition to that the chairman of the BNC, Pavan Sharma reported that he too had been receiving such complaints but he hadn’t disclosed it with the principal. He said that the issue was not taken into consideration as the last meeting witnessed a walkout by some members.
It is to be noted that this isn’t the first time that the principal is accused of financial and administrative irregularities. The former principal Purbi Saikia too faced assertions such as irregularities in faculty appointments, harassment of staff, misuse of staff car, bribery, and this is not the first time the principal of BNC has faced allegations of financial and the College GB had suspended her.