Ex-minister flags financial crisis at Sirsa varsity

Former state Finance Minister and senior Congress leader Sampat Singh has raised serious concerns over the financial health of Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU) in Sirsa.

He warned that the institution was on the verge of collapse due to “severe underfunding and long-standing administrative mismanagement”.

Singh strongly criticised the belief that state universities could become financially self-sufficient without consistent government support, calling it a “serious misunderstanding”.

Addressing a press conference here, Singh said CDLU was facing a budget deficit of Rs 155.29 crore this year.

Despite a Rs 27 crore loan from the state, and a hike in student fees, the university’s expected income was only Rs 59.20 crore — far short of the Rs 193.81 crore required to meet its annual expenses.

He said salaries had not been paid for the past three months, and the university had already used Rs 46.38 crore from its pension and infrastructure funds to stay afloat.

Singh highlighted staffing issues, stating that, out of 141 approved teaching posts, only 68 were filled. As many as 99 essential non-teaching positions remained vacant, he added.

He criticised the outsourcing of over 500 jobs and the alleged irregular appointments during a previous Vice-Chancellor’s temporary tenure.

Government providing support to CDLU: VC

Responding to these concerns, CDLU Vice-Chancellor Vijay Kumar acknowledged the financial strain, but stressed that the government was providing support to the institution.

He said Rs 5.40 crore had recently been granted to the varsity, and a request for another Rs 60 crore had been submitted.

He said salaries would be released soon, adding that the university was committed to quality education and a positive environment for students.

Kumar outlined several achievements, including the upcoming establishment of a common incubation centre at a cost of Rs 3.28, a new centre for Indian knowledge system backed by a Rs 21 lakh grant, and new diploma programmes in cyber security and digital forensics.

He said CDLU was preparing to send a team to International Youth Festival in the Czech Republic this September, for the first time.

The university was working towards becoming a zero-waste campus and was halfway through a plantation drive to plant 3,000 trees, he said, adding that CDLU was now self-reliant in handling admissions and results.

Meanwhile, Singh urged the state government to immediately release Rs 50 crore as emergency support, and another Rs 100 crore by the end of the year.

He also called for a legislative probe into the “financial mismanagement” at CDLU.