Govt orders special audit of 12 Delhi University colleges over financial irregularities

The Delhi government has launched a special audit of 12 Delhi University (DU) colleges that it fully funds, following allegations of financial irregularities raised by Chief Minister Atishi.

An eight-member team from the Directorate of Audit has been assigned to carry out the special audit after a status report was submitted by a high-level committee.

In an order issued last week, the Audit department instructed the secretary of the Directorate of Higher Education to ensure that the colleges provide all necessary records to the audit team.

“I am directed to convey the approval of Competent Authority for conducting a Special Audit on the examination of issues related to 12 colleges (fully funded by the Delhi Government) affiliated with the University of Delhi, as per the status Report of the High Level Committee,” the order reads.

The order also mandated that the relevant colleges supply all records, arrange seating, and offer secretarial assistance to the audit team.

Last month, during a joint meeting of the Academic Council (AC) and Executive Council (EC), Delhi University unanimously accepted the findings of a 10-member committee formed to investigate the allegations.

Also Read: Why north-west Delhi’s Kirari has become a nightmare for residents

The committee’s report concluded that no financial irregularities were discovered in the 12 DU colleges, contradicting Atishi’s claims.

The university indicated it would ask the state government to consider the committee’s recommendations and requested Atishi to retract her letter to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, where she suggested de-affiliating the 12 DU colleges.

In December of last year, Atishi had raised concerns about “irregularities” in these colleges, citing procedural lapses involving hundreds of crores of rupees from the public treasury.

She proposed either merging the colleges under the Delhi government or permitting the Centre to assume full control, which would lead to the city government ceasing its funding.

(With inputs from PTI)