Hubballi: The assistant registrar (administration) of
Kannada University, Hampi, spent Rs 40,000 on a day trip to Bengaluru, according to financial documents posted on the varsity website (http://www.kannadauniversity.org).
A copy of the document, available with TOI, states that assistant registrar H Sreenivas, during his trip to Bengaluru on March 7, 2018, spent Rs 40,000. The document states that he went to meet the chief minister and ministers concerned. He had taken an advance of this amount from the varsity’s finance department.
Sreenivas told TOI he went to Bengaluru to meet then chief minister and ministers to discuss the release of funds to the university for various development works. “I hired a Swift Dzire to go to Bengaluru. Eight
syndicate members joined me in Bengaluru. The vice-chancellor and registrar came in their own vehicle. We hired a taxi in Bengaluru for syndicate members to visit various places in Bengaluru. The expenditure also includes accommodation for members. I spent about Rs 4,000 on each member,” he claimed.
He also claimed he had taken an advance from the finance department. “As far as entitlement is concerned, I’ve taken money for expenditure on syndicate members,” he said.
However, official sources in the varsity, requesting anonymity, asked, “Why did syndicate members have to meet the chief minister and ministers? Moreover, syndicate members are given separate travel allowance and per diem (daily) allowance. There should be an investigation,” sources said.
Though the money was spent during the previous government’s rule, there’s discussion now given that chief minister Kumaraswamy is putting in place austerity measures.
The university has been in the news for recruiting staff after the election code of conduct was announced. It convened a syndicate meeting and issued appointment orders to select persons for 22 teaching and non-teaching posts the day the assembly elections were announced and the model code of conduct came into force. The appointments were withheld after TOI reported it.
