HRD Ministry Directs UGC to Grant Rs. 21.73 Crore to Panjab University

The University Grants Commission has been directed by the Ministry of Human Resource and Development to grant Rs. 21.73 crore to Panjab University as early as possible. The HRD Ministry directed the UGC after the Finance Development Officer and Registrar of Panjab University submitted a clarification of five objections that were raised by UGC.

G.S. Chadha, Registrar of Panjab University revealed that he had received an e-mail from the HRD Ministry regarding the grant of Rs. 21.73 crore. Earlier, the varsity had submitted the reply to UGC and HRD Ministry on queries raised with respect to how the varsity is going to increase its finances. All the queries and objections have been clarified and the HRD Ministry has directed UGC to grant the prescribed amount.

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Kirron Kher, Member of Parliament revealed that the ministry had agreed to allocate Rs. 140 crore to Panjab University to get rid of the financial crisis that the varsity has been facing for a long time.

On March 9, 2017, UGC raised various objections regarding the draft submitted by Panjab University for the grant. UGC pointed that even though the varsity decided to reduce the number of teaching and non-teaching posts, the reduction of salary has not been shown in proportion to the reduction in the number of staff. Therefore, UGC had directed the varsity to prepare a draft plan through which the varsity can increase its internal revenue from various sources.

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Currently, Panjab University is not in a position to pay salaries to the teaching staff for the month of March. The salary for the teaching staff has been cleared for the month of February. The varsity has been struggling to pay salaries and has been on a look out for funds. Earlier, a sum of Rs. 176 crore was sanctioned to the varsity.