NLUM VC Prof Dube Spent Rs 3.56 lakh on Alcohol from Public Exchequer Alleges KSU, Demands Probe and His Removal

Meghalaya Law Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has sought two months to complete the probe.

The Khasi Students Union has levelled serious allegations of financial misconduct and corruption against Professor Indrajit Dube, Vice Chancellor of the National Law University Meghalaya (NLUM).
KSU revealed shocking findings from RTI disclosures. Citing the RTI findings KSU alleged that over Rs 15 lakh was reportedly spent on the VC’s frequent travels, largely lacking official justification.

KSU General Secretary Donald V Thabah revealed that the union found out through RTI that NLUM organised ‘Climate Investment Coalition for the Global South’, an event in Delhi on February 20 this year. A whopping amount of Rs 3.56 lakh was allegedly spent on alcohol during the event and the food bills from upmarket restaurants was too high too, all charged to the government coffers meaning public money. He said that KSU has no issues with the total budget of the event estimated at Rs 25 lakh, but condemned the expenditure of the state’s money on alcoholic beverages.

A delegation of KSU led by Thabah on Saturday met Meghalaya Law Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh and submitted a memorandum demanding an internal probe into the matter and pressed for the immediate removal of Vice Chancellor Prof. Dube.

Talking to Northeast Live after the meeting with Ampareen Lygdoh, Donald V Thabah said, “In our RTI we found that Vice Chancellor Prof. Indrajit Dube had taken many trips outside the state at the expense of the state government, public money. There are few trips which are mentioned official. However, we found that few trips are very vague which did not mention whether those were official or personal, if personal how can the VC use public funds? He is also living a lavish lifestyle dining in expensive places. And in a particular programme, Climate Investment Coalition for the Global South in Delhi, the total expenditure of the programme was Rs 25 lakh. In that programme the expenditure of the alcoholic beverages was paid from the state exchequer. In a single day, an expenditure of Rs 3.56 lakh is being done on alcoholic beverages. Now is it right for the Vice Chancellor to drink alcohol with our money that is the public money?”

KSU during their meeting with Ampareen Lygdoh also flagged recruitment irregularities, including the controversial appointment of Gurpreet Singh as Deputy Registrar, allegedly bypassing state reservation norms and transparency. Flagging cases of nepotism in the NLUM, KSU cited the example of an assistant professor who, according to KSU was appointed the post without fulfilling the eligibility criteria of the University Grants Commission and not possessing a PhD at the time of joining. KSU also said individuals linked to IIT Kharagpur and political circles were being preferred for appointments in the Law University.
Significantly, Meghalaya Law Minister Ampareen Lyngdoh has sought two months to complete an internal probe into the serious allegations of financial misconduct and corruption against Prof. Indrajit Dube.

Also Read: UDP General Secretary Jemino Mawthoh Quits. Will His Next Stop Be BJP?

For more news and updates, visit: Northeast Live

COMMENTS