Mangalore University faces heat over alleged misuse of Rs 7 crore RUSA funds
Mangaluru: Mangalore University has landed in controversy over alleged misuse of Rs 7 crore sanctioned under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA-1) for constructing boys' and girls' hostels.
An expert committee from the Karnataka State Higher Education Council, tasked with verifying the fund utilisation, found no hostel buildings on campus. When questioned, university officials reportedly attempted to mislead the committee by claiming the funds were used for an “international hostel.” However, the utilisation certificate submitted to the Higher Education Department claimed the construction of two separate hostels.
The issue was raised at a State Project Director’s meeting, following which a show-cause notice was issued. Department sources told Deccan Herald that the explanation submitted by the university was unsatisfactory. A senior official confirmed that the council had recommended recovery of misused funds and imposition of penalties.
RUSA funds, 60% of which are contributed by the Centre and 40% by the state, are meant to be used strictly for the specified purpose. In this case, Rs 3.5 crore each was allocated for the boys' and girls' hostels.
Vice Chancellor P L Dharma said an internal inquiry was ordered after a recent syndicate meeting. “A notice has been issued to the then finance officer. The inquiry will conclude in 15 days, and the report will be submitted to the government,” he said.
Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar stated that the department is awaiting the university’s internal inquiry report before initiating further action.
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Justice Nirzar Desai of Gujarat HC questions ban on videography inside police station
video goes viral
Ahmedabad: A video of Justice Nirzar S Desai of the Gujarat High Court sharply questioning the state government over the legality of prohibiting videography inside police stations has gone viral on social media, reigniting the debate on citizens' rights and police accountability.
In a pointed exchange during court proceedings, Justice Desai asked the state’s lawyer:
"Tell me under which section videography is prohibited. Today we are living in an era of transparency. Assuming police are doing something illegal and a citizen intends to videograph it – which provision of law empowers you to stop someone from taking videography? Under which provision of law have you stopped the accused from video recording?"
The video has sparked widespread public interest, especially in the context of earlier legal interpretations around filming inside police premises.
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Background: Courts on videography in police stations
The question of whether video recording inside a police station is a punishable offence has previously been addressed by the Bombay High Court. In Ravindra Shitalrao Upadyay v. State of Maharashtra (2022 SCC OnLine Bom 2015), the Aurangabad bench ruled that such recording does not fall under Section 3 of the Official Secrets Act, 1923, which deals with spying. The court noted that police stations are not categorized as "prohibited places" under Section 2(8) of the Act. Therefore, secretly recording inside a police station cannot be treated as an offence under the Official Secrets Act.
