The Delhi government has launched a special audit over the financial irregularities of 12 DU colleges that receive full funding from the state. Chief Minister Atishi brought up allegations of financial mismanagement, which are the subject of this audit. The Directorate of Audit has assigned an eight-person team to complete the audit in response to a high-level committee’s status report. The objective is to thoroughly examine the financial practices of these institutions and address any irregularities found.
Last week, the Audit Department issued an order instructing the Secretary of the Directorate of Higher Education to ensure that the colleges make all required records accessible to the audit team. This directive applies specifically to 12 colleges that are fully funded by the Delhi Government and affiliated with the University of Delhi.
According to the order dated September 27, the audit is being conducted based on the findings of a High-Level Committee report. It highlights that a special audit is necessary to examine various issues related to these institutions. The order also emphasised that the colleges must cooperate fully with the audit team by providing all relevant documentation, making necessary arrangements for seating, and offering secretarial support throughout the auditing process.
In a recent joint meeting, the Academic Council and Executive Council of Delhi University unanimously approved the findings of a 10-member committee established to investigate certain allegations. The committee was formed to address claims made by Atishi regarding financial irregularities of 12 DU colleges. Upon reviewing the evidence, the committee’s report concluded that no financial irregularities were discovered in the institutions under scrutiny.
As a result, the university stated its intention to request the state government to consider the committee’s recommendations. In addition, DU urged Atishi to retract her letter addressed to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, in which she had proposed the de-affiliation of the 12 colleges in question.
Atishi voiced concerns in December of last year about “irregularities” in the way 12 colleges that get financing from the Delhi government handle their finances. She pointed to several procedural lapses involving substantial amounts of public money, amounting to hundreds of crores of rupees. She offered two options for potential solutions. Combining these organisations under the direct administration of Delhi was one possibility. As an alternative, she proposed giving the national government complete control over the colleges, relieving the Delhi government of its need to continue funding them.
