A Special Local Fund Audit Team, constituted by the Tamil Nadu Higher Education Department, has unearthed financial fraud to the tune of several hundred crore rupees at the troubled Annamalai University in Chidambaram.
According to privileged sources, the government has found that the university had rampantly violated UGC and government norms in appointment, promotion and fixation of pay for teaching and non-teaching staff.
It is learnt that Higher Education Secretary Apurva Verma has communicated to the university officials that the audit has exposed that between 2009 and 2011 a recurring financial burden of nearly `22.69 crore has been caused due to higher pay fixation for staff.
Excess appointment of teaching and non-teaching staff in the regular, distance education and self-financing courses departments in the university has led to additional expenditure of `576.35 crore from 1988-89 to 2010-11, the audit has revealed.
Besides, a sum of `178.15 crore has not been remitted in the PF, CPF and Pension Fund “thereby committing a serious breach of trust”. In addition, `50.57 crore of PF money has not been deposited with the State Treasury from 1996-97. Verma has asked the Syndicate and Senate to send a note within seven days on the action taken on the issue under the Annamalai University Act.