Under scanner

Ranchi, July 18: The office of governor-cum-chancellor of universities has expressed shock over poor financial management by at least three state universities, asking them to ensure that they constitute audit committees headed by a senior official from the office of accountant-general by August 31.

Kolhan University, Nilamber-Pitamber University and Sido-Kanhu Murmu University failed to set up the audit committees even though the chancellor’s office had asked them to do so in the past.

“The audit committees are important as they are just like public accounts committee of the Parliament, which keeps a tab on financial matters of a varsity. It’s really a matter of concern that three out of five state varsities are yet to form such a committee,” Sudhir Tripathy, principal secretary to governor, said.

Tripathy today reviewed the financial aspects of all five universities of the state, including Ranchi University and Vinoba Bhave University. Registrars, financial advisers and finance officers of the varsities were present among others at the meeting chaired by Tripathy at the governor’s secretariat here.

The principal secretary made it clear that all varsities must inform Raj Bhavan after disposing pending cases related to pension of retired teaching and non-teaching employees. “No matter related to pension shall be pending,” Tripathy said.

Sources said another round of meeting would be held at the level of chancellor, where officials of the state human resources development (HRD) department and Jharkhand Public Service Commission are also expected to be present. Matters related to fixing salaries as per the Sixth Pay Commission, filling up of vacant posts, creation of new ones and promotions will be discussed and a concrete decision taken at that meeting.

Notably, the five state varsities are yet to work out the salaries of teachers and non-teaching staff as per the new scale. Although there is satisfactory progress in case of RU, other varsities are lagging behind.

It is also a matter of concern that the state HRD department does not release the salaries every month.