Explanation sought on BU tender row

BANGALORE: Principal Secretary for Higher Education H Siddaiah has taken note of the alleged violation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (KTPP) Act 1999 for printing and procuring question and answer booklets by seeking an explanation from Bangalore University Registrar (Evaluation) T R Subramanya.He has been accused of calling for regular tender apart from an earlier e-procurement notification for works pertaining to the UG/PG exams of April 2012.In a letter addressed to the Registrar (Evaluation), the Principal Secretary’s office has sought explanations on the methodology followed while calling for tenders through e-procurement mode.“Under what provisions/ rules were the e-procurement tenders floated? What is the total quantity of materials sought? Was regular tender called for within the period of the e-procurement tenders? If so, have you cancelled e-procurement tenders? Were the University officials given training under e-procurement tender process? Is the University exempt from e-procurement?” are some of the questions posed at Subramanya.The letter further states that Subramanya is expected to file in his answers before 4pm on February 29.“All tender processes under way currently will stop until further orders,” the letter states. While Subramanya was unavailable for comment, VC Dr N Prabhu Dev said, “I don’t think there has been a violation from our end. As there was no clarity on the issue, another regular tender was floated.”