The Pragatisila Nagarika Parisad (PNP) has urged Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik to order a probe into irregularities in the Higher Education Department pertaining to undue favour in payment of University Grants Commission (UGC) scale of pay to undeserving teachers in aided colleges of the State.
The Parisad said that the scam came to the fore after the Accountant General of Odisha raised objections to the entitlement of UGC scale of pay to teachers in aided colleges who do not deserve the same. Notably, about 100 such teachers availed the high salary and perks despite not meeting the basic criteria.
The Supreme Court has clearly said that UGC scales should be allowed to teachers of colleges only from the date they acquire a higher degree like M Phil or Ph D, but in case of the 100 beneficiaries, the State Government fixed the scale of pay retrospectively from their date of joining when they did not meet the criteria. Consequently, the State Government bore a heavy financial burden in the way of paying arrears since 1986. “This is a gross misutilisation of public funds,” alleged the Parisad members.
Parishad member Ashok Nanda said some persons have been given the benefit of job continuity from a period, when the beneficiaries were students. In the wrong decision, the State has spent around Rs 360 crore in the last ten years.
He said the Higher Education Department has formed four teams to probe the scam of illegal payment. “Surprisingly, some of the members of these teams are the same persons who facilitated approval of service and illegal fixation of salary of questionable appointees,” he added.
The forum urged the Chief Minister to order an inquiry into the whole issue with utmost transparency and suggested the State Government to take steps to recruit talented persons in the higher education system through proper selection mechanism, screening of in-service faculties through appropriate methods, introduction of a mandatory and robust student feedback mechanism on classes and teaching quality and make college teachers accountable to the State.