An RTI filed by an alumnus revealed that between 1988 and 2023, the Barkatullah University (erstwhile Bhopal University, estd in 1970) of the Madhya Pradesh government paid its staff Rs 275 crore. For 35 years, no attendance was recorded, nor was the staff’s absenteeism checked! From five departments and five teaching faculty members, the university expanded over the years to 20 departments, 40 permanent teachers, 21 contract teachers and 250 guest lecturers. The present annual expenditure is Rs 13 crore. Following the RTI, attendance tracking was introduced last year. It is astonishing that throughout these decades, none of the Vice-Chancellors, Registrars, Finance Department officials, auditors (internal, UGC and CAG) or other authorities were aware of the issue. The RTI applicant alleges that a scam was perpetuated and salaries were paid without verifying staff attendance. In Goa, teachers employed on a contract or lecture basis receive their salaries after a few months, and that too after their leave and attendance records have been scrutinised, with plenty of excuses (but no apologies) for the delay. Meanwhile, Barkatullah University magnanimously paid its staff without confirming whether they turned up for work or not.
Sridhar D Iyer, Caranzalem
