Board of Finance okays Rs23-lakh lift at UIET
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, January 7
The PU Board of Finance (BoF) today approved the recommendations of a committee regarding air travel for official purposes and the LTC.
The committee decided in favour of the proposal that air travel through Air India shall be compulsory in only those cases where the reimbursement of travel expenditure is to be made out of the Central Government funds. In other cases, travel by private airlines (economy class) shall be permitted. However, the condition regarding booking of air tickets either through the website/booking counter of the airline concerned or by the government-approved agencies continue to be applicable.
In case of the LTC, the air travel through private airline (cheapest economy class) shall be permitted subject to the condition that the reimbursement of air fare shall be limited up to an amount equivalent to the Air India economy classes.
The BoF deliberated on the issue of dismantling the existing second floor of the building of Regional Centre, Kauni, the members resolved to immediately write to the Punjab Government highlighting various hazards associated with the dilapidated condition of the existing building.
The Board of Finance also deliberated on the development works worth Rs 71.4 lakh, which include setting up of a library hall at the UIAMS and installing a lift at the UIET. The board had approved the budget, including Rs 8.40 lakh for the construction of washroom for staff room and language lab of Department of English & Cultural Studies, Rs 7.8 lakh for provision of toilets at wards of Department of Oral Surgery (Ground Floor), Rs 23.53 lakh for a 13-passenger lift (gearless with machine room) at the UIET Block II, Rs 10.90 for setting up library reading hall at UIAMS and Rs 20.83 for extension of pantry/toilets/driver room/ projection of main guest house (GF).
The meeting was chaired by VC Prof Raj Kumar.
The VC requested the representatives of the UT and Punjab Government to support the PU with respect to the maintenance and development of the campus and also to release timely grants.
Deferred agenda
The BoF has deferred the agenda item concerning the provision of LTC benefits to 72 professors who are in service even after attaining 60 years of age. The issue was triggered by the VC orders to allow the LTC benefits to three employees above 60 years of age. The VC’s order, which the audit said should be applied to 72 employees, came in view of the interim orders of the Punjab and Haryana High Court with regard to the 2016 case of Amrik Singh Ahluwalia and other Vs Panjab University and others, stated: “We direct that the order passed by the learned VC vide which he has directed to pay salary to the appellants as they were drawing immediately before the pronouncement of the order by the learned Single Judge excluding HRA, as an interim measure and subject to the final outcome of these appeals, is most fair, just and workable solution.”
