Tribune Impact: Finance Department releases Rs 35-crore salary for women varsity staffers

The state government’s Finance Department has released Rs 35 crore for the salaries of Bhagat Phool Singh University for Women, Khanpur Kalan (Sonepat), employees.

The department expressed strong displeasure with the university administration for not preparing a “realistic and approved” budget estimate for the 2025-26 financial year.

Staff members of the varsity on Tuesday staged a symbolic dharna at the main entry gate of the university under the banner of the All Employees’ Associations, demanding the payment of their salaries, pending for three months. Around 560 employees — regular, ad-hoc, contractual teaching and non-teaching employees — marked Diwali as a ‘black Diwali’ this year due to the non-payment of salaries.

The issue was highlighted by The Tribune in its columns on October 29, with an article titled ‘Women university staff protest pending salary in Sonepat’.

The department has released the funds under non-recoverable financial assistance in the form of an interest-free perpetual loan for the 4th quarter of the current financial year, in view of the prevailing situation of the university.

“The release of funds is approved with strong displeasure, as the university authorities have failed to: (i) prepare a (realistic) and duly approved budget estimate for the 2025-26 financial year, and (ii) furnish the requisite financial and administrative information sought repeatedly by the government. Such continued lapses reflect serious deficiencies in financial management, lack of accountability, and disregard of government directions,” said a letter issued by the Additional Chief Secretary, Finance Department, to the Additional Chief Secretary, Higher Education Department, on October 31.

A formal note of displeasure should be conveyed to the university administration for its unsatisfactory handling of financial and budgetary matters, the department said, adding that the Administrative Department should ensure stringent and continuous monitoring of the university’s expenditure through the Directorate of Higher Education.

“Any further delay, negligence, or deviation in compliance with the Finance Department directions will not be condoned, and the entire responsibility will be of the Administrative Department and the university concerned,” the letter added.

Despite the release of funds, university sources said employees had not received salaries, pending since July. Approximately Rs 8.5 crore per month was allotted for salaries, and the government has released Rs 35 crore to the university, said a source on condition of anonymity, adding that employees would get salaries for four months soon.