PU approves Rs 515-cr budget

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 26

Panjab University today approved a budget of Rs 515 crore with an increase of 12 per cent in the deficit for fiscal year 2017-18. As per the budget report, which was tabled in the Senate meeting of the university today, the deficit is of Rs 244 crore, whereas in 2016-17 it was Rs 217 crore.

The university approved the budget of Rs 515 crore which is enhancement of 8 per cent as compared to the last year when the total budget was Rs 473 crore. The income expected this year is of Rs 271 crore, while in 2016-17 the income generated was Rs 256 crore.

Interestingly, this year in the budget report, the authorities have not mentioned that how much of the grant is expected from state and the Centre, respectively.

Panjab University Vice-Chancellor (VC) Arun Kumar Grover said, “The university’s financial condition is in flux and the authorities are clueless as to how much grant will be released by both governments. There is no communication about Rs 140 crore from the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry. The university will constitute a core committee, which will visit the state and the Centre government for financial problem. The Punjab government should hand over the oldest college of Hoshiarpur to the university with a grant of Rs 20 crore for maintenance.”

The budget report also stated that till March 31, 2017 the pending grant against the Punjab government was Rs 333 lakh and Centre was yet to clear Rs 6,804 lakh.

Budget at a glance      
Expenditure: Rs 515 cr 
Income: Rs 271 cr 
Deficit: Rs 244 cr

Senate divide on central status to PU

Senate was divided on the issue of central university status to the PU. On one side, the Senators claim that after the getting the status of central university the authorities have to cut down 2/3 of the non-teaching staff on the campus while on the other side, the status will help the university strengthen its financial condition.  

Special Secretary of Punjab in Senate

Punjab Higher Education Special Secretary Chander Gaind today attended the Senate and assured that he would check the status of funds left under RUSA with the Punjab government so that a grant could be disbursed to the PU. The MoU which the government has to sign for the constituent colleges was held due to model code of conduct. 

Controversy over the DSW son accident case

Controversy arose between Senators and Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Groveron an accident case in which son of the DSW women was involved and later the girl alleged sexual assault by the boy. Senator Jagdish Mehta alleged that the PU VC threatened him and ordered him to disown the girl who was doing research under him. The PU VC, Arun Kumar Grover, said that he advised to withdraw false case of sexual assault or her career would be spoiled.