UT top officials played with Sports Council funds: Audit

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 13 

From the Governor’s House to top UT officials, all got sports equipment purchased with Chandigarh Sports Council funds.

The audit report of the council for 2013 to 2016 revealed several financial irregularities committed during the period. 

The report disclosed many instances when the purchases were split by the council to avoid floating tender, which is a violation of the General Financial Rules.

The officials who benefited from the council funds included the then Adviser to the UT Administrator, the then Home Secretary, the then Secretary, Chandigarh Sports Council, and other senior officers of the UT Administration serving during the period.

The report mentions that the aim of the UT Sports Council is to promote sports in the city and not to provide items at the houses of officers.

A total of Rs 89,802 was spent only for buying items for the then UT Adviser. The items included a motorised treadmill purchased for the then Adviser at the cost of Rs 60,585 on February 6, 2015. 

Further, sports equipment was supplied to the Governor’s House six times during the three years. The then Secretary, Sports Council, also purchased a pair of tracksuit and jogger studs for Rs 7,665 using the council’s funds.

The audit team found that purchases of Rs 4.93 lakh were split into seven categories for buying sports material and uniform for the hockey team for an ‘exposure’ tour to Malaysia. The purchases were made for the same item for an amount below Rs 1 lakh to avoid the tendering process. The item was purchased only by calling quotations, which was a violation of the financial rules. 

Even stitching of 51 blazers for coaches of the council and the Sports Department was got done without floating a tender. From cricket kits to tracksuits for junior and senior players of football academy, all purchases were bifurcated. 

Sources said the council had not taken any action on the report. 

When contacted, Director (sports) Karnail Singh refused to make any comment on the issue.