Audit objection over ₹17cr disbursal to colleges in UT

CHANDIGARH: The office of the director general of audit (Central), Chandigarh, has questioned the UT education department for irregular withdrawal of ₹16.93 crore and its disbursal among colleges in a last-minute rush to prevent the grant from lapsing, documents obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) by Hindustan Times reveal.

The objections were raised after inspections in January and February 2020.

In the report, the director general states that “as there was no requirement of funds lying unspent amounting to ₹13.96 crore and ₹2.97 crore for the financial year 2017-2018 and 20182019 respectively, hence the authorities withdrew the funds at the fag end and disbursed to the respective aided colleges.”

This “irregular retention of ₹16.93 crore outside the government account” through “fixed deposit” was against the Central government account (receipts and payments) rules governing financial matters of UT, read the report. Rule 100 (2) of the same outlines: “No money shall be drawn from government account

unless it is required for immediate disbursement.” It adds: “It is not permissible to draw money from government account in anticipation of demands or to prevent the lapse of budget grants.”

The report mentions that during the test check of records at the office of the director higher education (DHE) for the financial years 2017-2018 and 2018-2019, it was found that the funds were released in March, each year, “on account of ‘advance’ grant in aid to meet the expenditure on 95% deficit for the next financial year.”

Pawan Kumar Sharma, principal of DAV College, Sector 10, said he was not aware if the institute was given a special grant, adding, “We availed the grants as per the directions of the UT education department.” “We availed what we were given as grant-in-aid for colleges, which is 95% of the deficit amount,” said Nisha Bhargava, principal of MCM DAV College, Sector 36.

Confirming that payments were made, Balraj Thapar, principal of Goswami Ganesh Dutta Sanatan Dharma College in Sector 32 said, “I was not the principal at that time. I am told that this was advance grant paid to us which was later adjusted.”

The audit report also mentions that no reply was furnished by the education department when the “lapse” was pointed out.

When asked to comment, Rubinderjit Singh Brar, director, higher education (DHE), said “We will take it up with the audit department and also constitute an internal committee to look into the matter.”