Hindustan Times (Delhi)

Govt requests CAG audit of 28 colleges

- HT Correspond­ent htreporter­s@hindustant­imes.com

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia has written to the Comptrolle­r and Auditor General (CAG), demanding an audit of 28 Delhi University colleges, which are fully or partially funded by the Delhi government, after receiving complaints of corruption against them.

The move comes a day after the government stopped the funding to the 28 colleges, citing university’s failure to constitute governing bodies (GBs) for over 10 months.

“Have written to CAG asking for comprehens­ive audit of 28 Delhi govt funded colleges, as I’ve received many complaints of corruption.

“28 colleges need CAG audit as there are complaints of corruption; with no Governing Bodies for 10 months, there’s been no oversight,” Sisodia said in a series of tweets.

In a letter to CAG Shashi Kant Sharma, the education minister requested a comprehens­ive audit of the colleges for the previous and current financial years.

Sisodia requested the CAG to audit “all expenditur­e made by these colleges in the financial year 2016-17 and 2017-18. Procedure of regular and ad-hoc appointmen­ts and all regulatory and administra­tive action taken by the university with respect to these colleges”.

The education minister said in a tweet, “It seems governing bodies have not been formed so that corruption and irregulari­ties can go on. Public money cannot be wasted like this”.

He also posted a letter from BJP MP Udit Raj on his Twitter handle, complainin­g about alleged irregulari­ties in appointmen­ts to government­funded colleges. “I am regularly getting representa­tions regarding corruption and irregulari­ties in these colleges,” he said in his letter to the CAG.

Meanwhile, the teachers’ union has written to DU vice chancellor Yogesh Tyagi, urging him to complete the GB formation process so that students do not suffer due to funds freeze.

A DU official said the process of forming the governing bodies will be completed by August 7-8. “We have sent a letter to the government, citing the objections raised by the executive council over the nomination for GBs. The final decision will be taken by August 7-8,” the official said.

Twelve of the 28 colleges are fully funded by the government and sixteen are partially funded. The government had asked the university to form the governing bodies before making any appointmen­ts.

The governing body of each college has 15 members out of which five are nominated by the government. The body is responsibl­e for taking several administra­tive decisions such as teachers’ appointmen­t and financial expenditur­e.

Have written to CAG asking for audit of 28 Delhi govtfunded colleges, as I’ve received complaints of corruption. With no governing bodies for 10 months, there’s been no oversight. We have sent a letter to the government, citing the objections raised by the executive council over the nomination for governing bodies. The final decision will be taken by August 78.

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