To check graft, Sisodia seeks CAG audit of 28 DU colleges

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Tuesday wrote to the CAG, asking for an audit of the 28 Delhi University colleges, fully or partially funded by the state government, after receiving complaints of corruption against them.

"I have written to CAG asking for comprehensive audit of 28 Delhi government funded colleges, as I have received many complaints of corruption against these colleges," Sisodia said.

The move came a day after he issued orders to stop funding to these 28 colleges because they failed to set up governing bodies. DU however, assured the government that the bodies in all these colleges will be formed within one month.

Earlier, the minister said that he will not tolerate any kind of corruption with public money. According to him, the non formation of the governing body has direct connection with the corruption. "28 colleges need CAG audit as there are complaints of corruption. With no governing bodies for 10 months, there's been no oversight," he said

The minister alleged that DU colleges did not form governing bodies as they do not want anyone to oversee the corruptions going on. "It seems governing bodies have not been formed, so that corruption and irregularities can go on. Public money cannot be wasted like this," Sisodia said in a series of tweets.

DU has failed to form the governing bodies in these colleges despite several reminders by the state government. According to the minister, nearly 13 reminders were sent to the colleges but they have not taken any step.

Responsible for taking several administrative decisions, a college's governing body comprises 15 members, out of which five are nominated by the state government. Out of 28 colleges, 12, including Maharaja Agrasen, BR Ambedkar College and Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College are fully funded by the government.

The teachers have accepted the need of audit, but reacted strongly against the decision of fund freeze. "The audit is needed in every college because we also have various complaints against individual colleges," said senior professor and president of DUTA Nandita Narain.

Talking to Millennium Post Narain said, "Audit can happen in its own process but the freeze on fund should be removed immediately."

Senior professors said that the teachers and non teaching staffs will not get salary in this month and the last month's salary was also delayed.

While the teachers putting the blame on the DU administration, Manish Sisodia clarified that there is no question of reviewing the orders till governing bodies are formed and approved by the government.