Major irregularities have surfaced at the Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) campus, located around 70 kilometres from Bhopal, following student protests and vandalism earlier this week. Shockingly, 11 buildings inside the VIT campus do not have a Fire No-Objection Certificate (NOC)—a fact that came to light through a notice issued by the Kothri Municipal Council in Sehore district. The VIT administration has been served multiple notices by both the Kothri Municipal Council and the Revenue Department over a series of structural, safety, and land-use violations. Municipality says ₹42 lakh fire safety fee pending According to documents accessed from the municipal council, the college was issued notices on 29 May, 20 June, and 22 July 2024, asking it to produce ownership and construction permission records for its buildings. However, the institute allegedly failed to submit any documents. On 1 October 2024, the council issued a final warning, stating that if the required building permission documents were not provided within three days, demolition of unauthorised structures would begin. The notice also lists 11 buildings and blocks on which VIT owes approximately Rs 42.40 lakh in fire safety fees. SDM flags illegal land diversion on agricultural plots A separate inquiry by the Ashta Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) found that VIT was conducting educational activities on multiple agricultural plots without obtaining mandatory land diversion approval. The Revenue Department has calculated a total due of Rs 19.39 lakh in land revenue, of which the college has deposited only Rs 7.37 lakh. A pending amount of Rs 12.01 lakh must be deposited immediately, the notice states. The SDM has also instructed the institute to follow all conditions related to disputed land and pending permissions. Key violations listed in notices to VIT 1. Construction Without Building Permission All notices from Kothri Municipal Council clearly state that VIT constructed various buildings and facilities without securing building permissions. Despite being notified three times, the administration failed to provide supporting documents. 2. No fire NOC for several buildings The municipal notice names 11 buildings/blocks for which the Fire NOC is missing and fire safety fees have not been paid. A penalty has also been generated for non-compliance. 3. Illegal use of agricultural land The Revenue Department investigation found that multiple survey numbers—including 968/1/3, 974/1, and others—were used for academic and commercial purposes without authorization. BJP MLA raised issue in assembly earlier The matter is not new. Ashta BJP MLA Gopal Singh Engineer has previously raised several concerns about VIT in the Madhya Pradesh Legislative Assembly. His complaints include: Post navigation IAS Verma stands by his ‘Roti-Beti’ reservation remarks:Brahmin and employee groups demand FIR; warn of protests if authorities fail to take immediate action Father showed obscene videos, abused daughter:Victim reveals exploitation from age 10, says, ‘He had evil intentions towards younger sister too’
