SVNIT failed to submit audited accounts to MHRD

Surat: Sardar Vallabhbhai National Institute of Technology (SVNIT) is passing through a financial crisis on account of not receiving various grants from Ministry of Human Resource and Development (MHRD) for the past two-and-half years. Officials confirmed that the grants were not released by MHRD since the institute had failed to submit audited accounts to it.
Due to complaints of financial irregularities, a high-level committee of MHRD from New Delhi had visited the institute last week and examined the documents. The committee members seized several documents. MHRD had received complaints about a financial scam worth several crores of rupees in SVNIT, sources claimed.

Meanwhile, Pratik Shah, in-charge deputy registrar, who looked after account section, has resigned from his post. Shah, who is a PhD, will continue as system administrator in computer department of SVNIT. “He resigned from the additional charge taking responsibility for delay in getting the accounts audited,” SVNIT director S R Gandhi told TOI.

SVNIT receives over Rs150 crore in annual grants every year. The institute recently received Rs50 crore grant for the first time in two years. The institute is facing problem in paying salaries to its faculty and carrying out various projects.

“The accounts of SVNIT were not audited since there were some issues in managing the institute’s bank account of the past five years. A committee of MHRD had visited the institute last week in relation to the issues. We are trying to get the pending grants from the ministry,” said Gandhi.