Education Minister Atishi Saturday ordered an inquiry against the 12 Delhi University colleges, fully funded by the government, for “misusing” government funds. She stated that “one of the biggest procedural irregularities committed by these colleges is with respect to the creation of teaching and non-teaching posts and appointments without the government’s approval”. In a statement, she said, “The pattern of assistance of these colleges very clearly stipulates no post will be created. without the approval of the government of NCT of Delhi.” She also pointed out that “. the Directorate of Audit, Government of NCT Delhi, in its report, included a special audit of 6 of these 12 colleges, conducted in 2020. (it) found several instances of serious irregularities and procedural lapses committed by these colleges. These lapses involve expenditure worth hundreds of crores from public exchequer.” In a letter to the secretary (higher education), she pointed out that “there are 939 illegal teaching posts and 958 illegal non-teaching posts in these colleges currently. Since these posts are ab initio illegally created, therefore, all appointments (ad-hoc or permanent) done on these posts are illegal”. Atishi reiterated that as a consequence of irregularities by these colleges, 1,897 teaching and non-teaching employees — for no fault of theirs — have been appointed illegally. The minister directed the secretary to identify and take strong action against the principals and officials responsible for creating illegal posts, including recovering salaries since 2015 of illegally appointed staff members. “These colleges are funded by the public exchequer and, therefore, must be held accountable for any misuse of funds,” she said. Meanwhile, a DU official, on condition of anonymity, said, “We have found out about this through the media. We will deliberate on the contents of this letter and then give our comments.” Last week, the Delhi government had said it would only provide funding to the 12 colleges once they are de-affiliated from DU and become part of one of Delhi’s state universities. The statement came even as DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh wrote to Atishi saying the colleges will remain with it and the state should continue funding them. He had reiterated that “the question of de-affiliation of these colleges does not arise”.
