Another scam unearthed in J

Srinagar, Dec 22 (UNI) The Jammu and Kashmir Vigilance Organisation today registered a case against officials of the state Technical Education Department and a private firm for purchasing hundreds of computers on highly exorbitant rates.

A vigilance spokesman said officials, comprising the State Level Purchase Committee (SLPC), of the Technical Education Department purchased 409 computers from a Jammu-based private firm, AGM Sales Corporation, on a highly exorbitant rate of Rs 43,000 per system as against the prevalent market rate of Rs 33,900, thereby causing a loss of Rs 38 lakh to the state exchequer.

He said the Vigilance Organisation conducted a surprise raid to enquire into the allegations of purchase of computer systems by the Directorate of Technical Education Department, Kashmir on highly exorbitant rates during 2004-05.

The verification revealed that under the Prime Minister's Reconstruction Plan, the department purchased 409 computer systems, required for various ITIs, the spokesman added.

The SLPC comprised of the then Director Technical Education (Chairman), then Deputy Director (Central) and Accounts Officer (Member Secretary), Principals of Government Women's Polytechnic College, Jammu and Srinagar (Members) and FA/CAO Technical Education Department, Jammu (Member).

The spokesman said the officials hatched a conspiracy with the proprietors of AGM Sales Corporation and effected purchases of 409 computer systems in violation of financial rules and to the detriment of the public exchequer.

The accused allegedly abused their official position and gave a go-by to the procedure and dishonestly purchased computers on exorbitant rates from the supplier without inducing fair competition.

The spokesman said the accused officials, with ulterior motives, dishonestly and wilfully did not specify the configuration and the quantity of the computers with an aim to prevent healthy competition and confer undue benefit upon themselves and the supplier.

The verification further revealed that the accused avoided ascertaining the rates and purchasing computers on DGS and D rates available for commercial use with a warranty of three years and instead bought systems of home series with just one year warranty.

It was also revealed that the computers were purchased at Rs 43,000 each as against the prevalent market rate of Rs 33,900 with same configuration, resulting in a loss of Rs 38 lakh to the exchequer.

UNI AG RR RAI1942