JAMMU: The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) of India has slammed the  University of Kashmir for “excess”  non-teaching staff.
The varsity has engaged additional non-teaching staff on contract and part –time basis  despite adverse ratio indicating existence of excess  non-teaching staff, the CAG has said in its annual report, tabled in the State Legislature on Tuesday
The report states that the ratio of teaching and non-teaching staff ranged between 1:4.8 and 1:5.1 during 2008-09 and 2012-13.
“Despite adverse ratio indicating existence of excess non-teaching staff, the university had engaged additional non-teaching staff on contract and part –time basis,” the report says.
The report also says there was a shortfall of teaching faculty in the varsity during year 2008-09 to 2012-13 and it ranged between 23 and 35 per cent in the same period.
“The ratio of teaching and non-teaching staff was higher than the prescribed norms by UGC,” it says.
Regarding the admissions, the report says, lesser number of students were admitted despite good intake capacity during the same period.
“Against intake capacity of 19,278 students for academic years 2008 to 2012 a total of 16603 students (86 per cent) were admitted though 177816 students had applied for admission during these academic years,” the report says.
The  report also says that 11 research projects were abandoned midway after a cost of Rs 62.24 lakh had been incurred on them.
Out of 77 research projects to be completed by March 2013, only 16 projects had been completed, the report says.
The university had not prepared its consolidated annual accounts since inception. The finances were scattered in as many as 123 different accounts, CAG says in its annual report of March 31, 2013.
It also questioned the Zakura land deal which, according to the report, has caused financial burden of Rs 71.73 crore in the “injudicious decision relating to acquisition of 300 Kanals of land.”
The audit report further says that the construction of 137 building projects (expenditure: 31.57 crore) was undertaken without formulation and approval of plans.
“Supplementary agreements for additional works amounting to rs 23.88 crore were irregularly made with contractors on already allotted rates and works were got executed without calling for fresh tenders,” it adds.

KR Desk