Panjab varsity VC, Registrar ‘overpaid’, says UGC

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 25

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has detected discrepancies in the salaries being paid to the Panjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar. Observing that both of them were being “overpaid”, the UGC has ordered the immediate recovery/refund of the extra amount.

Terming it a “grave charge”, the UGC has asked the PU Finance and Development Officer (FDO) to “determine with greater specificity the circumstances in which the said erroneous arrangements were ordered”.

“It has to be recognised that the recovery of the ‘over payments’ will only be a partially corrective action, aimed more at removing the audit observation/objection. The graveness of the charge underlying these incidents would warrant some more serious attention,” UGC Deputy Director (IA) RC Bhatt has said.

In an official communication, dated August 24, sent to the PU FDO, a copy of which is with The Tribune, the UGC Deputy Director (IA) said that with reference to the duly signed statement of the salary submitted by the PU in respect of the senior functionaries, some discrepancies had been noticed.

“A special pay of Rs 5,000 with dearness allowance on it is being paid to the VC by the university in contravention of the rules. The over-payment made/received on this account needs to be recovered/refunded immediately,” the UGC wrote.

It also stated that a special allowance of Rs 17,085 was also being paid to the VC. “It has been mentioned in the statement that the Chancellor of the university has approved this to compensate for the difference in pay/allowance drawn from his previous employer. The basis of the grant of special allowance duly supported by the relevant rules and a copy of the approval of the Chancellor should also made available to this office immediately for a final settlement of the issue,” Bhatt noted.

The UGC said according to an order of the Department of Personnel and Training, dated April 5, 2010, the pay of a re-employed pensioner needs to be regulated. “The PU Registrar is a retired commissioned defence officer and it is evident from the statement that he is being paid the minimum pay of the scale without deducting the amount of pension as prescribed in the rules in violation of the orders. Directions from the UGC were issued on April 3, 2013, and clear orders from the Assistant Controller (Local Audit), Chandigarh, dated March 31, 2016,” it mentioned.

Bhatt noted, “It is also not clear from the statement whether the dearness relief is also being claimed by him on his pension. The correct factual position, along with supporting documents, be furnished to this office. The over-payment made due to wrong pay fixation may be recovered from his salary immediately under intimation to this office and to the Local Audit Department, Chandigarh”.