The Hindu : Kerala News : Government's directive to KAU

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Saturday, Nov 13, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Government's directive to KAU

By Our Special Correspondent

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, NOV. 12. The Government today asked the Kerala Agricultural University (KAU) to rectify all financial irregularities that had taken place in the University during the past four years.

The directive came after the issues were discussed at a conference attended by the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, the Finance Minister, Vakkom Purushothaman, and the Agriculture Minister, K. R. Gouriamma, the Vice-Chancellor of the University, K. V. Peter, and officials here.

Most of the irregularities pertained to implementation of UGC scales of pay in 2000 and creation of the posts of assistant professors earlier. Higher pays were fixed for about 300 teaching staff of the University and early promotions were given to many of them. This caused an annual liability of around Rs. 50 lakhs to the KAU. Besides, Provident Fund liabilities of the University increased by about Rs. 44 crores as arrears were merged with the Provident Fund.

The University took these actions without clearance from the Finance Department. The irregular payments were detected in the audit. The Inspection Wing of the Finance Department later confirmed the irregularities in its report. The University was told at the conference to recover excess sums paid to the staff or face suspension of Government grants.

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