Principals of around 12 colleges of Delhi University (DU) are drawing HRA while avoiding to stay in Government allotted bungalows which is deemed to be "illegal" as per the University Grants Commission (UGC). In this regard the teachers of the College of Vocational Studies (CVS) have written to the HRD ministry seeking its intervention in the matter and filed several RTIs.
The CVS is not the only college where the principal has been accused of this irregularity but the UGC has recovered HRA from the principal of Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences (BCAS) too.
Sixteen teachers from the CVS have written to the HRD ministry against its principal Dr. Inder Jeet Dagar, a few months ago accusing him of drawing HRA while the bungalow earmarked for the principal inside the college campus has not been used by him. On receiving no response from the Ministry, these teachers have filed a fresh RTI to know the status of the letter.
"We represented the matter before the Vice Chancellor of the DU but it was of no avail. Now we request you to take action into this matter. He is not staying in the bungalow and in the Governing Body meeting he has tried to manipulate the guideline by stating his inability to shift in the bungalow is due to personal reasons," a letter signed by these teachers states.
They have said the construction of new rooms in the colleges for which Rs 29.5 crores are available, sanctioned by DU has been delayed intentionally.
In response to an RTI, the UGC has categorically stated that, "If the residential quarter is available for college principal, she/he is not eligible for HRA, whether she/he accepts the same or not."
In a similar case at the DU's BCAS, the UGC has recovered the HRA from its principal and stopped it too. Besides, the UGC has also recovered HRA from the Vice Chancellor of the English and Foreign University recently.
According to sources, there are around 12 colleges in the DU where the principals are not using the allotted bungalows and instead drawing the HRA. The teachers of CVS have a series of allegations against Dagar. They have accused him of various illegalities like re-appointment of staff and misuse of UGC grants.
Senior teacher of CVS, Dr. RK Chpra has filed around 120 RTI in the college to pursue the matter of irregularities. Another teacher from Bhim Rao Ambedkar College who alleged the same against its principal said the total scam amounts to tens of crores of rupees across the colleges where such a trend is being followed.