KOCHI: The Mahatma Gandhi University (MGU) has recommended vigilance inquiry against former director of Institute for Intensive Research in Basic Science (IIRBS) under the varsity, Dr I. Ibnusaud for financial irregularites, appointments and other misappropriations during his tenure as director.
The varsity had decided to make a recommendation in this regard to the Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau (VACB). It took the decision based on a a report submitted to it by the registrar M.R. Unni citing the irregularities. The alleged irregularities include the way '40 lakh project fund given by the government was spent, buying of equipment at the institute when Ibnusaud functioned as honorary director, in relation to appointments made at the institute, in relation to construction of buildings and drawing salary at school of chemical sciences without being present or taking class there for four years.
It was also identified that Ibnusaud had permitted three research scholars registered under him to work in the centre. However, the centre is not having any permanent faculty working and as per the UGC Regulations for the award of PhD degree, a candidate shall not be permitted to register in any of the centres functioning without permanent faculty.
The bills, vouchers and accounts of the centre are yet to be audited by the statutory auditors. Most of the documents are either inaccessible or missing, M.R. Unni, who is holding the charge of honorary director of IIRBS in his preliminary report said. He also requested the VC to relieve him of the charge and entrust the same with Dr M.S. Latha.
The varsity also appointed a three-member internal committee with Prof T.V. Thulaseedharan as convener to hold internal inquiry simultaneously into the allegations and submit report within a month. Meanwhile, the varsity also put off the Syndicate meeting scheduled for last Monday, until further orders.
The decision was taken following widespread protests by Left-leaning staff organisations demanding that the Syndicate should take decisions only after the new government declared its higher education policy.
