Higher Education Department’s Rs 40 crore tender corruption – with the knowledge of the Minister and Commissioner

The tender (No. HE-NCNE-PLAN-0003-2024/15689) issued by the Odisha Higher Education Department on 20.03.2025 — which was for the supply of lab equipment to colleges — is still incomplete even after more than a year.

He requested information under RTI Act (Application Date 05.07.2026) — Work Order, Agreement, Installation Certificate, Payment Details and Technical/Financial Evaluation Comparison Chart.

The PIO of the department (Dr. Sujata Subhadarshini Nayak) replied: “Work order has been issued” — but the agreement, installation proof, payment details and evaluation comparison — everything was denied on the pretext of Section 8!

In the First Appeal too (order dated 03.09.2026), the applicant was not provided with any information, but rather the application was dismissed in unnecessary and abusive language.

It is clear that the PIO of the Higher Education Department and the Appellate Authority are not willing to provide any information. The question arises — why is there so much secrecy in this multi-crore tender?

It is the right of the public to know whether this is going on with the knowledge of the Higher Education Commissioner and the Minister. I will now file a second appeal with the Odisha Information Commission, it will take 6 months to a year for the case to be heard. By then there will be nothing left.