Financial Controversy at Tezpur University: No Assamese Books Purchased Despite Allocated Budget

Guwahati: The Tezpur University Teachers' Association (TUTA) has raised serious concerns about financial irregularities at the institution, highlighting that not a single Assamese book has been purchased during the past two financial years, which they consider a "complete neglect" of the regional language.

In their official statement released Wednesday, TUTA accused Vice Chancellor Sambhu Nath Singh of approving book purchases exclusively from select Delhi-based publishers, thereby inappropriately influencing the procurement process.

The association has called for a comprehensive investigation into the alleged financial mismanagement of public funds allocated to the university.

According to TUTA, Tezpur University received Rs 6.5 crore under the UGC grant-in-aid for capital assets in the 2024-25 financial year. This funding was intended for books, journals, ICT infrastructure, laboratory equipment, campus development, and other facilities.

Of this allocation, Rs 5.72 crore was approved specifically for books and journals, with Rs 4.56 crore ultimately spent in this category—representing approximately 70 percent of the total capital asset allocation.

Despite this substantial expenditure, TUTA revealed that no funds were utilized for Assamese books, even though Rs 2.91 lakh had been sanctioned for 146 books for the Department of Assamese.

The association further stated that during both the 2024-25 and 2025-26 financial years, the university failed to procure any Assamese books despite significant budget allocations and multiple requests to include regional literature in its collections.

"This complete neglect of the Assamese language in book procurement raises serious questions about the priorities and intent of the University administration," TUTA emphasized in their statement.

Providing detailed financial information regarding book procurement from various publishers, TUTA claimed that a significant portion of the university's capital asset fund has been directed to a select group of Delhi-based companies that do not supply Assamese books.

The statement alleged that Vice Chancellor Singh personally influenced the selection of vendors, circumventing the broader pool of qualified firms that were properly empaneled under university regulations.

"This deliberate restriction of suppliers not only raises questions of favoritism and conflict of interest but also suggests a possible financial anomaly in the handling of public funds meant for educational development," TUTA asserted.

The association maintained that the final list of books to be procured was largely determined by the titles these preferred vendors could supply.

"The absence of Assamese books for two consecutive years, despite dedicated allocation, reflects a serious disregard for regional inclusion and linguistic representation, undermining the academic and cultural ethos of a central university situated in Assam," the statement added.

TUTA emphasized that the situation warrants an independent and transparent investigation by appropriate authorities to ensure accountability and restore confidence in the university's procurement and governance processes.

Tensions at the university have been escalating since mid-September, when students accused VC Singh and university authorities of failing to show proper respect to cultural icon Zubeen Garg during the state's period of mourning following his death.

A confrontational exchange occurred between the VC and students on September 22, resulting in a situation where Singh reportedly had to hastily leave the scene.

TUTA, along with the student body and non-teaching staff, has been leading ongoing protests against the administration.

In response to the situation, the Sonitpur district administration ordered a magisterial investigation into the university authorities' alleged disrespect toward Garg.

A fact-finding committee established by the Assam Governor to investigate allegations concerning the Vice Chancellor's conduct subsequently visited the campus to inquire into these matters.

Earlier this week, TUTA, the Tezpur University Non-Teaching Employees' Association, and the student community jointly organized a procession protesting alleged deforestation and ecological destruction occurring under Singh's administration.

Singh has reportedly ordered the cutting down of several valuable trees and bamboo groves, including yellow bamboo—an essential element of the campus landscape—under the pretense of 'beautification.'

He has also initiated extensive grass planting across campus, which many university community members have criticized as environmentally unsound and superficial, particularly in Northeast India's tropical climate.

In response to the protests and allegations, Singh released a statement suggesting that some individuals may have unintentionally misrepresented certain facts and diverted attention from the central issues.

"I remain fully open to sincere and respectful dialogue with all stakeholders to address and resolve the challenges faced by our university community... I would always choose forgiveness over resentment, as it represents the stronger and more meaningful path," he stated.