By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Martin Luther Christian University (MLCU) has landed into a major controversy after RTI findings revealed that the university has allegedly misused funds released to the tune of Rs 10 lakh by the State Government for conducting coaching classes for Indian Civil Services aspirants from the State during the year 2009-2010.
As per the RTI documents, MLCU diverted the funds allocated as an advance from the contingency fund, for construction of boundary wall and other civil works at Wahrisaw, Umsawli and Mawpat.
In his letter addressed to Chief Secretary WMS Pariat on September 7, 2009, MLCU vice chancellor Dr Glen Kharkongor had referred to his meeting with the Chief Secretary at his chamber on September 3, 2009 on the request for interim funding of Rs 10.29 lakh with an assurance to commence the coaching for the first batch of IAS aspirants on October 1, 2009.
However, the MLCU Registrar Rev EH Kharkongor, in response to the RTI application on December 3, 2011 stated that the university has not started the IAS coaching project, therefore does not have the list of personnel, candidates who have enrolled, candidates who have passed and the fees structure. This clearly contradicts the official application of Dr Glenn C. Kharkongor.
Meanwhile, the order issued by the Personnel and Administrative Reforms (B) Department on February 4, 2010 stated, “The Governor of Meghalaya is pleased to sanction an amount of Rs 10 lakh only as assistance to the MLCU, Shillong for the purpose of coaching for Civil Services Examination, 2010.”
The above letter of the MLCU vice chancellor also has a link to the proposal for setting up the North East Careers Institute (NECI) submitted to the North Eastern Council (NEC).
The RTI documents also contain the letter of Dr Kharkongor addressed to the Chief Secretary requesting the State Government to recommend the setting up of the NECI with the commitment of the State Government to allocate 10% of the funds, which is the State’s share (Rs 15 lakh), for the financial year 2010-2011.
On May, 2012, MLCU registrar in response to the letter from the NEC Director in charge of Human Resource Development stated that the sanction accorded by the Government of Meghalaya to MLCU to start coaching for Civil Services Examination 2012 is linked with the setting up of the NECI availed by MLCU from NEC.
As per the available information there has been no record that the Government of Meghalaya had accorded sanction to MLCU to start coaching for Civil Services Examination 2012 except the one sanctioned in 2010.
It is strange to note that the amount of Rs. 10.00 lakh accorded by the Government of Meghalaya to MLCU to start coaching for Civil Services Examinations 2010 has not been utilized till date and was diverted for construction of the boundary wall and other civil works which was clearly mentioned in the letter of Dr Kharkongor addressed to NEC Director in charge of HRD on October 8, 2012 in response to the NEC’s letter on September 24, 2012.
As per the letter, the grant of Rs 10 lakh received from the State Government has been budgeted by MLCU for the boundary wall and other civil works which are not covered by the NEC grant for the NECI.
