UGC Recommends PU to Opt for HEFA Funding
The Panjab University and UGC battle in court for allocation of funds to the university. UGC questions its ability to be a centralised university and denies allocating funds. Suggests approaching HEFA instead.
The University Grants Commission or UGC has expressed their helplessness to allocate any extra funds to the Panjab University. The helplessness of UGC came just after the rejection of Panjab University’s plea of granting annual development grant by the MHRD or Ministry of Human Resource Development. Although the University Grants Commission has suggested the University approach the Higher Education Funding Agency (HEFA) if they need any extra funds for the University.
During the hearing of a PIL in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the information on the need for extra capital for Panjab University has been submitted. The MHRD has stated that Panjab University cannot be treated as a central university. The Panjab University professors' pay scale rise can only be treated as per the 7th pay commission by the central government only after it is approved from the Panjab State government.
The Panjab Univesity published its report saying that the university does not get any yearly development grants, unlike the centrally funded universities. The university also sheds light on the fundings they get from alumni contributions, student fees, and estate income is not sufficient to run the university. The university stated that the amount of money they require for various works is, 28,257.59 lakhs.
The UGC said in the court that they are not in a state to provide either grants on its own or granting funds out of its budget allocation until the MHRD agrees to allocate extra budget. The alternative options in front of the university are to seek the assistance of the Higher Education Funding Agency or HEFA.
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The central government last year issued an official statement saying that HEFA is a Non-Banking Financing Company (NBFC) non-profit entity that mobilises extra-budgetary resources to the development of higher study infrastructures in the country. For making the arguments that are related to the reformation issues in the governing bodies of the university, the court is adjourned for 23rd July 2019. The question on the reformation of bodies such as syndicate and senate was raised last year in the court by Arun Kumar Grover who is the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University.
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