THIS IS WHAT WE UNIVERSITY OF KASHMIR HA HA HA HA The Comptroller and Auditor General of India (CAG) has painted a grim picture of State’s highest seat of learning, Kashmir University, over the past four years. In its report for the year ended March 2013, the CAG has pointed out brazen mismanagement and loopholes in the varsity’s academic and financial affairs between 2008 to 2012. According to the report, KU has admitted less number of students than its intake capacity during the period. “Against intake capacity of 19,278 students for academic years 2008 to 2012, a total of 16603 students (86 percent) were admitted though 177816 students had applied for admission during these academic years,” the auditor states. Revealing the year-wise beak-up about the gap, the auditor states that 2789 students were admitted in 2008 against intake capacity of 2863. In 2009, 3333 students were on the rolls though intake capacity was 3474. Only 2979 students were enrolled in the institution in 2010 though absorption capacity was 3687. The gap further widened in the next two years. As many as 3794 students managed to get admission in the institution against the intake capacity of 4558 in 2011. In 2012, 3708 were admitted though intake capacity was 4696. In North and South campuses of the varsity, the report discloses, only 832 students were granted admission against the intake capacity of 3074, leaving 2242 seats vacant. EVALUATION PROCESS QUESTIONED: The report has questioned the evaluation of answer scripts by the varsity. “The change of results on revaluation ranged between 24 to 32 percent which indicates that the evaluation of answer scripts was not made correctly,” the auditor said. HUMAN RESOURCES MISMANAGEMENT: The auditor’s report reveals that the varsity is grappling with severe shortage of permanent teaching staff. In 2008-09, the shortfall of Professors, Associate Professors and Assistant Professors was 24%. The situation vis-à-vis teaching faculty was similar in 2009-10, with shortfall of 23%. The dearth of teaching faculty assumed alarming proportions in the next three years. In 2010-11, the number stood at 34% while in 2011-12 and 2012-13 the shortage was 34% and 35% respectively. In its findings, the CAG has revealed that non-teaching staff exists in excess in the institution. “The UGC prescribes a ratio of 1:1.3 for teaching and non-teaching staff for universities. The Kashmir University, however, did not maintain the prescribed staff strength as it was observed that the existing ratio for teaching and non- teaching staff was far in excess of the established norms,” the CAG has observed. The auditor’s scathing report says, “Despite adverse ratio indicating existence of excess non-teaching staff, the University had engaged additional non-teaching staff on contract/part-time basis.” Constructions without approval: About 137 building projects were undertaken without formulation and approval of plans, the report states. Pointing out violation of norms in execution of works, the report states, “The supplementary arrangements for additional works amounting to Rs 23.88 cr were irregularly made with contractors on already allotted rates and works were got executed with calling for fresh tenders.” Financial mismanagement: Remarking on the varsity’s financial matters, the report states, “The university had not prepared its consolidated annual accounts since inception. The finances were scattered in as many as 123 different accounts.” The CAG has noted that the varsity had submitted incorrect utilization certificates to the University Grants Commission. “Against an expenditure of Rs 4.43 crore under ‘General Development Assistance’ scheme and Rs 4.30 crore under Merged Schemes incurred during the period between 2007 to 2012, the university had furnished utilization certificates ending March 2013 for Rs 12 crore and Rs 6.18 crore respectively. The utilization certificates for extra amounts to the extent of Rs 7.57 crore and Rs 1.88 crore for both these schemes were furnished to the UGC thereby reporting incorrect expenditure to the UGC,” the report states. The document has also cited many instances of fund diversion. It states that Rs 30.80 lakh were diverted for purchase of buses, clearance of liability on account of construction of Humanities block and civil works of gymnasium hall from the funds released by UGC under the General Development Assistance scheme. It goes on to state that Rs 54.06 lakh were utilized in clear violation of the rules from the Rs 3.74 crore released by UGC under 11th Plan Merged schemes. Zakura land deal questioned: According to the report, the “injudicious decision” relating to acquisition of 300 kanals of land at Zakura Srinagar has caused the varsity a financial burden of Rs 71.73 crore. Questioning the deal, the report states: “The two chunks of land (259 Kanals and 9 1/2 Marlas and 39 Kanals) are not two geographically contagious and require additional acquisition for a compact campus.” It claims that the rates of the land had been determined without involving the Revenue Department for acquisition of land under the Land Acquisition Act. “Audit noted that the decision to go in for negotiated purchase of encumbered property without proper assessment of immediate and long term requirements was injudicious. The lapse was compounded by accepting a negotiated price without ascertaining the circle rate/ market rate and further compounded by taking recourse to a costly loan from the seller/ attorney holder,” the report states. According to the report, the highest sale deed registered with the revenue authorities in June 2008 for adjacent plot of land in Zakura was Rs two lakh (approximately Rs 4 lakh per kanal). But the University had purchased the land at Rs 20 lakh per kanal. This has resulted in purchase of land at a higher cost of Rs 47.89 crore, the document states. Poor research work: The lack of monitoring is responsible for poor research work in the varsity, the report claims. “The research activities undertaken in various departments of the University had not been closely monitored as most of the projects were abandoned and there was delay in completion of some research projects,” the report reads. Around 11 projects were abandoned midway, the reports states while pointing out that out of 77 research projects to be completed by March 2013, only 16 had been completed.
Posted on: Wed, 05 Mar 2014 02:51:27 +0000
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