Times of
India: New Delhi: Tuesday, September 17, 2019.
In
the past three financial years, Rs 2.4 crore of the Rs 2.8 crore collected by
Delhi University as refundable fees from students at the time of admission has
remained “unclaimed”. Not a single rupee of this has been used to support needy
students despite the rules specifying that any amount remaining after the
refunds to students should be transferred to the Vice Chancellor’s Student Fund
to support pupils from vulnerable and economically backward sections.
At
the time of admission, a library security and science caution money are
collected from students. On completion of the course that is, after the
declaration of the results the graduating students are eligible to get their
deposits back “within a period of one year from the date of leaving the
institution”, according to DU rules.
According
to the university’s reply to a query filed by RTI activist and DU law student Prashant
Kumar, it collected Rs 2,83,35,672 as library security and Rs 25,990 as science
caution money during 2016-19. In a subsequent reply to the RTI application, a
copy of which is with TOI, DU disclosed that Rs 46,49,350 was refunded during
this period, leaving an amount of Rs 2,37,12,312 as unclaimed.
The
VC’s Student Fund provides financial assistance to students of the university
under five categories: to those from below poverty line or persons with
disability, as medical assistance, to deserving students for payment of hostel
fees, as ex-gratia payment for accidental death or permanent disability and for
attending international conference and events.
To
another RTI application asking about the quantum of money available for the
VC’s scheme in the three-year period and how many students had availed the
grants, the university replied that no funds had been allocated to the VC’s
Student Fund in the period. Neither had any amount been granted to assist
students in the aforementioned categories.
Calling
for the audit and accountability of this amount, Kumar noted that DU was a
public university that received funds equivalent to the development grants
given to two-three districts. “The public, therefore, has the right to know how
the funds are being utilised,” said Kumar. “I filed the RTI query and found
that DU was sitting on a large amount of money collected to be refunded later,
but the university never bothered to refund it or utilise it for the benefit of
the students as stipulated.”
Kumar
added, “DU collects its fees online. In this digital age why can’t it also
refund the amount online? Moreover, the students are required to provide a
no-dues certificate to appear for the exams, which means that on declaration of
the results the applicable sum can be automatically refunded. Why would
students from remote places travel to Delhi to collect the Rs 1,500?”
When
contacted, DU vice-chancellor professor Yogesh Tyagi said, “I will look into
the matter on a priority.”
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