Bikaner : Bikaner On one hand, they kept earning good money by working abroad, on the other hand, they also kept taking salary and allowances like house rent from the government in the country. If you get two salary hikes on the day of joining the job, then what else can you call it if not ‘fun and fun…’? Such a shocking financial scam has been caught in Rajasthan Veterinary and Animal Science University (RAJUVAS) Bikaner. When investigated, it was found that the responsible officials bypassed the rules and gave other benefits along with salary allowance. In this way, the government was cheated of Rs 12 crore 42 lakh by giving salary and other benefits to the employees in the country along with job abroad. The special thing is that no one noticed this scam going on for about three decades. Not only this, many government employees who took the benefit retired and went home. Now the audit department has issued orders for recovery. In such a situation, recovery of government money has become a noose around the neck.
Recovery orders from 241 employees
Due to suspicion of irregularities, 472 employees of the university (including retired employees) were investigated and 241 employees were found guilty of irregularities. 43 types of charges were framed against them. Along with this, orders have been given to recover Rs 12 crore 42 lakh 18 thousand 470. This has created panic among the employees of the university.
Responsible people keep turning a blind eye to the benefits
Rajuwas was established in Bikaner in the year 2010. Prior to this, it was being operated as a part of the Agricultural University since the year 1987. Interestingly, for about 30 years, the responsible officers kept providing irregular career advancement scheme, promotion benefits and pay protection benefits against the rules to the employees working abroad.
This is the mess
Under the Career Advancement Scheme, the Assistant Professor of the University was paid an excess amount of Rs. 10 lakh 70 thousand 562 by approving the academic level before the prescribed period for senior scale.
Five teachers were given advance increments without any provision from the date of their appointment and were overpaid Rs 14 lakh 49 thousand 538. All of them have now retired.
The six professors were also paid salary, dearness allowance and house rent during this period in addition to the unpaid leave approved for their employment in the foreign university.
Bypassing the pay-protection salary fixation of 29 personnel, excess payment of Rs 4 crore 64 lakh 59 thousand 27 was made.
In the cases of 20 personnel, wrong payment of Rs 85 lakh 49 thousand 241 was made to the senior assistants and junior assistants against the pay fixation.
Why is there a fraud every year?
The university has local fund, general audit and AG audit. Then how did these irregularities not get detected for years. The three major government posts in the university are Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Finance Controller. The then Vice Chancellor, Registrar and Unit Incharge have also been held responsible for the financial irregularities in the local fund audit department. Questions are also being raised on not including the Finance Controller in this.
The committee will review
The matter of personal audit of the employees of Veterinary University has come to notice today. The audit para will be reviewed by the High Power Committee. For this, a three-member committee of retired Deputy Registrar, Finance Controller and Vice Chancellor who are not associated with the university in any way will be formed. After hearing the side of the employee, its report will be given to the Local Fund Audit Department. Further action will be taken on this basis.
