By Arun Pratap SinghGarhwal Post Bureau
Dehradun, 15 Oct: The State Finance Department has taken very serious note of the alleged administrative and financial irregularities that have surfaced in Uttarakhand Ayurved University and has directed the University administration to submit a detailed report regarding the allegations within one week.
In this connection, a letter has been issued by Additional Secretary Ahmed Iqbal to the Secretary, AYUSH and AYUSH Education Department, wherein it has been stated that a comprehensive report on the actions taken in respect of all financial irregularities must be submitted to the government (Finance Department) within seven days.
The official letter mentions that an amount of approximately Rs 125 crores has been released to the university since the financial year 2023–24 under certain conditions and with the expectation that the institution would act in conformity with the directives of the Finance Department. However, there have been alleged irregularities. The finance department also noted that no satisfactory action has yet been taken against the officials and employees found responsible for the financial and administrative irregularities.
The finance department has sought information from AYUSH Department and the University Administration on twelve specific points, including the recovery of irregular financial benefits, disciplinary proceedings against erring officials, review of irregular appointments and promotions, verification of faulty pay fixation, status of special audit, and action taken on the irregularities pointed out in the CAG report of 2019.
The official letter has warned that, in case the required information is not furnished within the stipulated time, no further financial proposals from the Uttarakhand Ayurved University will be considered by the Finance Department. The entire responsibility for such a situation will rest with the university administration, including the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar of the University.
According to the official communication, the university has been directed to clarify the status of recovery from the officials who have been granted unauthorised financial benefits, or, if recovery is not possible from them, from those responsible for approving such undue benefits. Detailed information has also been sought regarding disciplinary action against officials responsible for irregular appointments and promotions, and the termination of personnel irregularly engaged or regularised.
The Finance Department has further directed that a special audit be conducted of pay fixation and service regularisation of all permanent and contractual employees, along with a report on the implementation of the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS), under which promotions to Associate Professors and Professors were allegedly granted irregularly.
The communication further issues a categorical warning that failure to comply within the prescribed timeframe will result in financial consequences for the university, for which the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar shall be held directly accountable.
It may be recalled that Uttarakhand Ayurved University has been in the news ever since its inception more for the wrong reasons. Open differences between various VCs and the Registrars of the University, between the VCs and the governments as well as stories regarding alleged mismanagement of the hospital of the University have often hit headlines.
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