Pune BARTI Contract Under Probe

The Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI) in Pune is facing scrutiny over its contractual manpower arrangement.

The contract, initially awarded to Brisk India Pvt Ltd in 2014, has been extended multiple times, with the company later changing its name to Smart Services Pvt Ltd.

Maharashtra NSUI General Secretary Krishna Sathe has questioned the continued appointment of the same contractor and demanded an independent probe into the entire process since 2014.

According to documents cited by Sathe, the original manpower contract began in September 2014 and was subsequently extended at various stages, including in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, and later years.

A government communication dated March 28, 2025, also refers to an increase in the remuneration of contractual manpower and directs BARTI to take steps towards implementing a new e-tender process.

Sathe has raised questions over the lack of transparency in the process and the change in the company's name, pointing to the same Corporate Identification Number (CIN U47990PN2009PTC133563) mentioned in the documents.

He has demanded that BARTI make public the documents through which continuity of the contract was permitted after the company's name change.

The NSUI leader has also sought disclosure of the original tender, agreement, and work order, all extension orders, the names and designations of officials who approved them, and details of any subsequent tender.

Questions have been raised over the company's eligibility and any possible blacklisting or debarment orders, with Sathe demanding that the government clarify whether such checks were conducted before contracts were continued.

The allegations extend beyond the manpower contract, with the NSUI leader seeking scrutiny of food-supply contracts, payments to private training institutes, and appointments.

The issue has sparked concerns over the transparency and accountability of public institutions, with Sathe emphasizing that every rupee spent in the name of students, trainees, and disadvantaged sections must be accounted for transparently.

The probe into the BARTI contract is expected to shed light on the circumstances surrounding the repeated extensions and the change in the company's name, and to determine whether any irregularities or improprieties occurred.

In the meantime, the NSUI has reiterated its demand for transparency and accountability in the functioning of public institutions, and has called for a thorough investigation into the matter.

The incident highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in the functioning of public institutions, and the importance of ensuring that contracts are awarded and extended in a fair and transparent manner.

It also underscores the role of opposition parties and civil society organizations in holding those in power accountable and demanding transparency and accountability in the functioning of public institutions.