BN Institution Row: Secretary Mahendra Singh Agaria Breaks Silence on Audit, Membership and Governance Dispute

Udaipur:The ongoing controversy surrounding BN Institution has taken a significant turn after the institution’s secretary, Dr. Mahendra Singh Agaria, publicly addressed allegations related to governance, membership appointments, audits, and the role of the ad-hoc committee. In an extensive interaction, Dr. Agaria defended the institution’s functioning and termed the controversy an attempt to damage the reputation of one of Mewar’s oldest educational organizations.

According to Dr. Agaria, the situation escalated after a High Court order regarding the administrative dispute within the institution. He stated that following the court’s direction, the ad-hoc committee stopped functioning from the campus and the elected executive committee resumed regular operations. He emphasized that the institution is currently being managed legally and transparently under the framework of its constitution.

Speaking about the audit controversy, Dr. Agaria strongly denied allegations of financial irregularities. He said the institution undergoes regular audits by both the Income Tax Department and the Accountant General (AG). Referring to claims of financial mismanagement, he asserted that no evidence of embezzlement or corruption had been found in any official audit process.

He clarified that certain observations raised in audit reports were procedural in nature rather than financial misconduct. According to him, such issues can be corrected administratively and should not be projected as scams or corruption. He also questioned the public circulation of incomplete audit observations, saying that internal matters should first be clarified within the institution before being politicized publicly.

Dr. Agaria further addressed accusations regarding the appointment of 54 new members in the institution. He explained that the institution has a clearly defined constitutional process under which names are proposed by the executive committee and later approved by the general house. He claimed the appointments were passed unanimously and no objections were raised during the proceedings.

Rejecting allegations of favoritism or caste-based selection, he said membership is open to all eligible individuals irrespective of surname, family background, or social affiliation. He argued that several newly appointed members are highly qualified professionals, including retired principals, PhD holders, government officials, and individuals from the armed forces and education sector.

The secretary also spoke about the institution’s declining student strength. He attributed the reduction in enrollment primarily to the expansion of educational facilities in rural areas. According to him, decades ago students from villages had limited schooling options and therefore migrated to Udaipur for quality education. However, the spread of government and private schools in smaller towns and villages has significantly changed educational patterns.

Despite the challenges, Dr. Agaria said the institution is planning modernization and expansion initiatives. One of the key proposals under consideration is the conversion of two schools into Sainik Schools, a move he believes could create new educational opportunities for students from tribal and rural regions of Mewar.

He also expressed concern that repeated controversies are negatively affecting the institution’s image and discouraging parents from enrolling their children. Calling BN Institution a “highly reputed educational organization with over a century of legacy,” he appealed to all stakeholders to prioritize the future of students and the institution over personal or political conflicts.

During the interaction, Dr. Agaria repeatedly stated that he is willing to answer every allegation transparently and maintained that any concerns should be addressed through proper constitutional and legal channels rather than through public campaigns or misinformation.

The controversy has generated considerable discussion within educational and social circles in Udaipur, particularly because of the institution’s historical association with the royal legacy of Mewar and its longstanding contribution to education in the region.