In his official communication to the Vice-Chancellor, copy of which is with The Tribune, Mr Varinder Pal Sharma, FDO, sought an inquiry by the Indian Audit and Accounts Service (IAAS) against the Registrar, Dr R.S.Bawa. He alleged that the staff car, meant exclusively for the Registrar, and pool vehicles were allegedly used for taking and bringing back his wife from City School since 1996.

The communication added that the unauthorised use of staff cars by the Registrar and his family totalled 70,040 km approximately. He alleged that during checking of the income figures of the university it was noticed that the Registrar had deposited no such amount against the reported unauthorised use of staff cars.

Refuting the charges, Dr Bawa claimed that neither he nor his family had ever misused the staff cars. He said as per the decisions of the Syndicate (on the basis of Punjab Government guidelines) he was entitled for using official cars for private purposes up to a limit of 400 km per month against a payment of Rs 400. He claimed that whenever the staff car was used for personal purposes it was invariably logged as 'private' and due payments were made.

He alleged that everybody in the university knew about the 'character and credentials' of the FDO, who had allegedly used unfair means to achieve desired results. He added that it was a matter of record that in the past Mr Varinder Sharma had been censured and placed under suspension and his increments stopped.

However, Mr Varinder Sharma alleged that being the FDO he was duty-bound to raise financial irregularities. He alleged that Dr Bawa had instigated certain employees when he had sent a communication to the VC that he (Dr Bawa) could not get a third term as Registrar, as per university calendar. The second term of Dr Bawa ends in the third week of February.

Dr Bawa, however, claimed that there was no restriction on the number of terms (extensions) for the Registrar. He said Mr Varinder Sharma was no authority to interpret the university calendar /statute.