A public interest litigation challenging the alleged nomination-based award of a security contract worth more than ₹5 crore at Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University, Hyderabad, has been filed in the Telangana High Court, bringing the university’s tender process and use of public funds under scrutiny.
Javvaji Dileep, founder-president of the Students Protection Forum and a research scholar, filed the petition seeking an investigation into the award of the contract to B Secure Protection and Guarding Private Limited. The case was registered on Friday, and the filing was confirmed by the case history record.
Dileep had earlier submitted a complaint dated November 4 to the Director General of the vigilance and enforcement department. In the complaint, he alleged that two security tenders floated through the state’s e-procurement platform were cancelled at the final stage. He further alleged that the contract was later awarded to the private agency on a nomination basis without open competitive bidding or prior approval from the university’s executive council, despite the contract’s estimated value exceeding ₹5 crore.
The petitioner also alleged that the chief engineer was removed from the post after opposing the decision. He claimed that work orders were altered to conceal irregularities, including changes to orders initially issued for one year that were later reduced to three months. Dileep further alleged that security guards were asked to pay ₹1,270 for uniforms, ₹450 for shoes and ₹5,000 as a security deposit.
The petition has sought a vigilance or Anti-Corruption Bureau inquiry, action against officials found responsible, recovery of any misused funds and blacklisting of the agency. It has also requested scrutiny of decisions taken by the Vice Chancellor during the previous 18 months, including memoranda of understanding, payments to third-party consultants, foreign travel advances, college inspections, ratifications and contractors’ bills.
Among the other allegations raised in the complaint are payments of ₹80,000 for temporary golf club membership from university funds and ₹8 lakh towards permanent membership through an MoU consultant. These claims form part of the wider request for an examination of university expenditure and administrative decisions, rather than the security contract alone.
JNTU management has denied the allegations and said the university followed the procedures in force while awarding the contract. It also rejected the claim that the chief engineer was removed because of the security contract issue, stating that appointments to posts were made regularly and that the change was part of the routine process.
The High Court proceedings will determine how the petition and the allegations are taken forward. Any investigation, response from the named agency or directions concerning the tender process will establish the next stage of the case.
