Tainted former V-C on Gulf sojourn

Akthar, who has been indicted by two judicial inquiry committees for financial impropriety, has now defied her parent Gulbarga University and taken off to the Gulf.

The former vice-chancellor, who was employed in the department of education at Gulbarga University, has taken long leave from October 10 to join Shaqra University in Saudi Arabia, despite the university authorities advising her not to leave the headquarters without permission.

Akthar was found guilty of a host of charges by the one-man committee of Justice (retired) M P Chinnappa.

Gifts

She had ordered purchase of gifts worth Rs 8 lakh in violation of university guidelines. Besides, she drew a house rent allowance six times more than she was eligible for, and furnished her office without floating tenders.

During Akthar’s tenure, the university was also found to have run up a salary bill of nearly Rs 1.5 crore in violation of government orders.

Akthar was also found guilty of recruiting 67 faculty members despite the State Government asking her not to go ahead with it. The judicial commitee also found that her taxi bills ran up to lakhs of rupees despite being provided with two cars for her official use.

Permission withdrawn

While permission for her assignment at Shaqra University was granted through a syndicate resolution in August this year, it was later withdrawn, considering the serious nature of charges against her.

In a letter to the principal secretary to the higher education department, Gulbarga University Registrar S L Hiremath wrote: “In view of the inquiries pending against her in this university, as well as during her tenure as the vice-chancellor of Karnataka Women’s University, Bijapur, clarification and advice is sought from you as to whether, under these circumstances, she can be relieved of her duties in this university to enable her to join duty abroad.”

Referring to a letter addressed to Akthar, he adds, “She was advised through the chairperson not to leave the headquarters unless she is relieved by the university to join duty outside of the country.”

However, it appears Akthar decided to go ahead with her plans. She agreed to submit an undertaking that she would abide by the decision of the government in pursuance of the orders. But before the State Government could give its nod for the arrangement, Akthar went on leave.

Gulbarga University Vice-Chancellor E T Puttaiah told Deccan Herald that they were seeking legal opinion on the matter, and would take action against her under the Civil Service rules.

Sources close to Higher Education Minister V S Acharya said the inquiry report was with the governor and they could act only on instructions from him.