HYDERABAD: After being under the scanner over 'irregularities' in promotions and pension fund scheme, vice-chancellor of English and Foreign Languages University (Eflu), Sunaina Singh, has come under fire from the Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) for her expenditure in contravention of rules. From house rent allowance (HRA) to foreign trips and tour advances for domestic travel, the CAG audit team has listed 'misuse' of funds amounting to nearly Rs.14 lakh in a just-concluded probe.
The audit revealed the VC drew Rs.4.40 lakh as HRA, ignoring the fact that she is not entitled to HRA. As per the audit report, despite the presence of a "university earmarked furnished residence" for the VC on campus, Singh was paid an HRA of Rs 22,500 per month from May 14, 2012 to December 2013 (amounting to Rs.4.40 lakh) in contravention of the university statutes.
When the VC's office said Singh was compelled to stay outside the campus "to meet her personal obligations," the audit team raised objection saying that even then, the VC was not entitled to HRA as per the university's rules.
Also under the CAG scanner are Singh's trips to Singapore and London, for which she drew travel allowance worth Rs.2.01 lakh. This the auditors listed as "violation of ministry of finance instructions on economy measures" which had been communicated officially to the VC.
The auditors also found anomalies in advances which the VC drew for her domestic travel. Singh reportedly drew Rs.1.10 lakh from the university funds even as "sponsoring agencies" (UGC/MHRD) and states concerned bore all the expenditure in connection with her tours. This violation, according to legal experts, could be taken seriously by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) as it amount to double claim.
"Double claim could strip any official of his or her post as it amounts to cheating the government of its funds," an expert said.
Further, CAG has also raised objection to 'services' extended by the university administration for the benefit of the MHRD office in the city. The report says the university paid Rs.7.04 lakh towards car rentals, engaged with the Hyderabad camp office of MHRD.
This expenditure was found to be "avoidable". The report also says that in vouchers, the expenditure was wrongly listed as expenditure in connection with the payment of bills for official use by the VC. "However, the VC was provided with the university-owned Innova vehicle," the report read, throwing light on the misuse of funds.
Sources said the CAG audit report is expected to open a can of worms as the MHRD has taken a serious view of the report. "The VC could face serious action if the MHRD does not ratify her spending details. The audit report cannot be closed unless the university authorities give a valid reason for incurring this expenditure and get it ratified," an audit expert said.
Except for objections on HRA, the university has not responded to any of the observations of the CAG team. In most cases, the report under these heads was concluded with a statement from the university that said, "audit observations would be examined and a detailed reply would be furnished in due course".
The audit revealed the VC drew Rs.4.40 lakh as HRA, ignoring the fact that she is not entitled to HRA. As per the audit report, despite the presence of a "university earmarked furnished residence" for the VC on campus, Singh was paid an HRA of Rs 22,500 per month from May 14, 2012 to December 2013 (amounting to Rs.4.40 lakh) in contravention of the university statutes.
When the VC's office said Singh was compelled to stay outside the campus "to meet her personal obligations," the audit team raised objection saying that even then, the VC was not entitled to HRA as per the university's rules.
Also under the CAG scanner are Singh's trips to Singapore and London, for which she drew travel allowance worth Rs.2.01 lakh. This the auditors listed as "violation of ministry of finance instructions on economy measures" which had been communicated officially to the VC.
The auditors also found anomalies in advances which the VC drew for her domestic travel. Singh reportedly drew Rs.1.10 lakh from the university funds even as "sponsoring agencies" (UGC/MHRD) and states concerned bore all the expenditure in connection with her tours. This violation, according to legal experts, could be taken seriously by the ministry of human resource development (MHRD) as it amount to double claim.
"Double claim could strip any official of his or her post as it amounts to cheating the government of its funds," an expert said.
Further, CAG has also raised objection to 'services' extended by the university administration for the benefit of the MHRD office in the city. The report says the university paid Rs.7.04 lakh towards car rentals, engaged with the Hyderabad camp office of MHRD.
This expenditure was found to be "avoidable". The report also says that in vouchers, the expenditure was wrongly listed as expenditure in connection with the payment of bills for official use by the VC. "However, the VC was provided with the university-owned Innova vehicle," the report read, throwing light on the misuse of funds.
Sources said the CAG audit report is expected to open a can of worms as the MHRD has taken a serious view of the report. "The VC could face serious action if the MHRD does not ratify her spending details. The audit report cannot be closed unless the university authorities give a valid reason for incurring this expenditure and get it ratified," an audit expert said.
Except for objections on HRA, the university has not responded to any of the observations of the CAG team. In most cases, the report under these heads was concluded with a statement from the university that said, "audit observations would be examined and a detailed reply would be furnished in due course".
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