Irregularities in the disbursement of arrears to teachers working in higher education institutions in the Nagpur region have prompted the Directorate of Higher Education to initiate an inquiry. Director of Higher Education Dr Shailendra Devlankar has constituted a committee to investigate the discrepancies that allegedly occurred at the office of the Joint Director of Higher Education, Nagpur. The committee comprises Joint Director of Higher Education at Amravati Dr Abhay Khamborkar, Administrative Officer, Amravati, Dr Prabhu Davne, along with Accounts Officer of the Higher Education Aid Office, Amravati, Yashpal Gudade.

 

The panel is expected to submit its report within the next two days. According to sources, the State Government had sanctioned funds towards arrears payable to teachers following promotions, placements and salary increments. Normally, proposals regarding revised salaries and arrears are prepared by the concerned Joint Director’s office and forwarded to the Finance Department for approval. While revised salaries begin from the subsequent month, arrears are released later after scrutiny and approval of the files. Once sanctioned, the funds are routed through the Joint Director’s office to the respective colleges where eligible teachers are employed. However, in the Nagpur region, the arrears distribution reportedly took place in a haphazard manner. Some colleges allegedly received funds despite not submitting any demand, while others received less than the required amount. In certain cases, institutions reportedly received excess funds compared to their claims.

 

The funds sanctioned were to the tune of Rs 40.38 crore. The discrepancies are said to have occurred due to clerical and calculation errors during the processing stage at the Joint Director’s office. Confirming the issue, Joint Director of Higher Education Dr Santosh Chavhan said, “It was a clerical mistake which we rectified and most of the excess amounts have already been recovered. A huge calculation exercise was involved in the process, where the mistake took place.”