Allegations of irregularities hit MKU Centre for Women Studies

The staff of the city-based Madurai Kamaraj University's Centre for Women Studies, aided by the University Grants Commission, have not received their salary for the past nine months with the UGC holding up grant of about Rs 26 lakh due to alleged irregularities in appointments, according to an official note.
The UGC has informed the varsity that the Grant was not sanctioned as it failed to fill the post of the Director for the Centre and was also running it in an "ad-hoc" manner appointing "unqualified" persons on consolidated pay.
The note put up by the members of the Convenor Committee, set up to implement regular administartive works in the absence of Vice-Chancellor, stated that the staff members had made several complaints about non-receipt of salary.

The note, a copy of which has been made available to the PTI, noted that the MKU, recognised as Centre for Excellence, had failed to send the staff details to the UGC though it had received initial grant of Rs.14.35 lakh in 2012.
In the meanwhile, MKU had spent Rs 26.63 lakh and this amount had to be reimbursed. There was also a need make provision for recurring expenses of the centre, the note said urging the Syndidcate to appoint a director.
University Staff union member Pandian alleged that the Registrar and the Syndicate did not take any step in this regard despite several notes.

Presenly the Head of the Tamil department Saradhambal was functioning as the director-in-charge but the UGC had rejected the temporary arrangement, he claimed.

According to Srinivasan, an official of MKU, the file (on the issue) was pending with the registrar.
The Registrar-in-charge Muthu Manickam said a note had been submitted to the convenor commitee and he expected a director to be appointed in a month's time.
He said salaries were not paid to some of the staff members of the centre and the issue would be resolved.