Delhi government has decided to form an enquiry committee to look into fund irregularities in 12 government-funded colleges in the city. The directive to the Directorate of Higher Education for the same was given by Deputy CM and Education Minister Manish Sisodia.

As per the statement released by the government, Sisodia said that the decision had been taken after it was noticed that the 12 Delhi University colleges had not disbursed the salary of teaching and non-teaching staff.

Besides, many of the colleges had also not submitted the utilization certificates of the third quarter grants.

What does the government statement say?

“If the colleges have not disbursed salaries, then what has been done with the funds with the college? What is the reason that utilisation certificates have not been submitted,” Sisodia said in the statement, according to PTI.

“The non-submission of utilisation certificates seems to indicate financial irregularities. It seems like an attempt to avoid scrutiny and accountability,” he added.

The enquiry committee will look into how the third quarter grants and existing surplus funds have been spent.

“Strongest action needs to be taken against any financial irregularities by these Delhi government colleges,” he said as per the statement.

Thousands of DU teachers went on a strike on Thursday to protest the non-payment of salaries for the past six months. On Tuesday, DUTA gave a call for a university shutdown after employees of 12 DU colleges said they had not received salaries and other dues for over six months.

Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) President Rajib Ray claimed that the Delhi government has now released the sanction letter of Rs 82,79,79,507 under salary head and an amount of Rs 9,50,90,500 under other than salaries’ head.