'Jamia spent over Rs 26 lakh for NAAC team visit'

Jamia Millia Islamia university spent over Rs 26 lakh for arranging a "regal treatment" for the team from National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC)which came for an inspection last year, an RTI query has revealed.
Jamia, which got an A grade, spent Rs 26.50 lakh on the NAAC team's visit from February 17-22, 2015, even though the varsity's spokesperson claimed that the amount was not spent to "influence" the team.
According to RTI queries filed by Atyab Siddiqui, a lawyer, and Firoz Bakht Ahmed, a school teacher, the varsity spent Rs 4.1 lakh on a series of meals, Rs 3 lakh on books and stationery, Rs 1.26 lakh on designer bags for the team and Rs 1.93 lakh on over 80 cars that were hired for the team members.

"The NAAC team's visit to any institution is for assessing the credentials and grades it accordingly. However, we don't understand the need for spending such a huge amount to make such arrangements, especially booking of five star hotels and handing away bags worth over Rs 12,000 each," Siddiqui, former legal advisor of Jamia told PTI.
A big chunk of the amount were used for a lunch, the advance of which alone was Rs 1.75 lakh, and 16 rooms (Rs 7,000 for a night) and a suite (Rs 14,000) booked from February 17 to 22 at a top hotel in the city.

Siddiqui and Ahmed have written to the University Grants for Commission (UGC) and NAAC, seeking their intervention into the expenditure account and withdrawl of the accreditation.

"There has to be an enquiry against how can they spend this huge sum from taxpayers money for absolutely nothing. We demand the UGC order withdrawal of this accreditation and a fresh assessment be conducted by NAAC," Siddiqui said, adding, he will approach the court if UGC and NAAC don't take note of these revelations.
When contacted, Jamia spokesperson Mukesh Ranjan said, "The university holds its ground. We did not hide or conceal any information sought from us. We are a premier institution boasting of excellent credentials. So there is no way of spending the amount to 'influence' the team."

"Our university guest house was being renovated at that time and the entire 20 member team had to be housed at one location so that they can coordinate among themselves. Hence we had to book the nearest available hotel," he said.