HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 9108 OF 2019 AND WRIT PETITION No. 15018 OF 2020

COMMON ORDER:

WRIT PETITION No. 9108 of 2019:

Petitioner is/was working as professor of Photography JNFAU. During his tenure as Director, Academic & Planning from March 2010 to November 2017, the University conducted a three-day Education Fair in 2014 with financial contributions from all the institutions. Expenditure and payments were made mostly in cash due to exigencies and delayed contributions. Petitioner organized the event, while expenditure sanctions and release of money were handled by the then Registrar (now the 4th Respondent - Vice Chancellor)

with approvals of the then Vice Chancellor.

1.1. For 2015 Education Fair that was held from 3^rd to 6^th July 2015, the Registrar (4^th Respondent) refused to process petitioner's note file dated 01.07.2015. To address this non- cooperation, the then Vice-Chancellor authorized petitioner to issue letters directly with his approval for matters connected to the Fair. On the same day, through another note file order, the Registrar was directed to open a new account titled Director Academic & Planning - Education Fair at SBI, Shantinagar Branch, A/c No. 62424397425, and petitioner was delegated powers to maintain and settle this account.

1.2. On 01.07.2015, the Vice-Chancellor decided to co- host the Government's Digital Week Celebrations along with the concluding day of Education Fair on 06.07.2015, making it a twin function with the Hon'ble IT Minister as Chief Guest. Pursuant to this, petitioner raised a note file on 02.07.2015 proposing expenditure modalities, which the Vice-Chancellor approved. On the event day, the Vice-Chancellor exercised full programme control, curtailing the role of the Registrar (4^th Respondent). Despite tensions between the Vice Chancellor and the Registrar, petitioner successfully organized and conducted the event on behalf of the University.

1.3. On 31.12.2015, Petitioner submitted a note file through the Registrar (4^th Respondent) seeking approval of the Education Fair account and further release of payments. Due to ill-will, the Registrar refused to process it and forwarded it to the Vice Chancellor, who granted approvals on 06.01.2016. Instead of acting on this approved file, the Registrar took over the expenditure bills and related file from Petitioner, processed them through the Accounts Section, and submitted a fresh note file dated 04.02.2016 for approvals. This led to split processing of the Education Fair file between petitioner and the 4^th Respondent. Following split processing, the Registrar (4^th Respondent) continued the process and via Lr. No. JNAFAU/DAP/TF/2016-17 dated 04.04.2016, released Rs. 50,072/- to petitioner for final expenditure payment. The Education Fair 2015 matters were concluded on 18.04.2016.

1.4. On 14.09.2017, Respondents 1 and 3 issued half- page note from the Local Fund Audit seeking Education Fair 2015 account. Petitioner replied stating that records had not been returned to his office due to split processing after 31.12.2015 note file. Acting on this, Respondents 1 and 3 issued U.O. Note No. DAP/General issues/2017 dated 07.10.2017 to the Accounts Section of the Registrar's office for compliance with the audit requirements. During petitioner's tenure as Director, Respondents 1, 3 and 4 did not raise any objections regarding Education Fair file or records following this U.O. Note. Thereafter, Petitioner was transferred from the post of Director, Academic & Planning on 22.11.2017, prompting him to file Writ Petition No. 40035 of 2017 which was disposed on 30.11.2017, directing the newly-constituted Executive Council to decide on transfer according to law. The Court also passed orders regarding a pending enquiry into financial irregularities by certain University officers in utilizing UGC funds.

" Since no enquiry was conducted by respondent No.3.

(Telangana State Council for Higher Education, TSCHE) pursuant to the Letter