University of Jaffna responds on Audit Report issues

Following is a response from the Vice Chancellor of the University of Jaffna to the article titled ‘AG highlights several irregularities at University of Jaffna’ published in the Daily FT of 4 August

Jaffna University

I would like to appreciate your interest on the highlighted matters in the Audit Report of University of Jaffna by the Auditor General, for year 2013.

The answers are as follows:

1.Delay in issuing results (audit para 4.1 a)

Now it has been improved by taking up this matter in the Senate.

2.Non recovery of funds from 148 lecturers who did not report for duty after completing scholarships (audit para 4.2 a)

Now it has been reduced to 80 numbers of lecturers and the action is being taken to reduce the number.

3.Over payment of Rs 246,680 in respect of photocopier serving (audit para 4.2 c)

As per the service agreement the contractor had successfully completed the work.

Currently there are no issues on this matter. This item has removed in the audit report of the following years.

4.Manner in which the preparation of a fixed asset register had been outsourced to a private company (audit para 4.2 d)

The work of preparation of Fixed Asset Register is in progress. Out of 6 stages, 3 stages had been completed. Now stages 4 & 5 are being carri8ed out. The contract had been extended up to 31.07.2016 on the request of the Contractor, due to expansion of the scope the contract.

5.Payment of full salaries to interdicted officers without UGC approval and non-completion of inquiries. (audit para 4.2 e)

and

6.Withdrawal of the interdiction of a professor and reinstatement with full salary.

(5 and 6 are referring same subject. (audit para 4.2 e)

Having considered the provisions of the Public Administration Circulars No 6/2004 dated 15.12.2004 and the No 6/2004(i) dated 31.12.2011. University Council had decided the followings:

To instate the person concerned to his position with effect from 01.10.2013 and to pay full salary with effect from 01.01.2015

To place him on compulsory leave with effect from 01.01.2015 and declared out of bounds

The inquiry panel is continuing its process as per the UGC Establishment Code.

7.Reinstatement of terminated staff without considering provisions in Establishment Code and UGC letter. (audit para 4.4 d)

The appeal has been submitted to the UGC with the recommendation of the Council and approval has been obtained from the UGC.

8.The status of the inquiry proceedings regarding the forged payment of Rs 1.5 million for books and periodicals not received. (audit para 4.3)

A case had been filed and the case is going on.

The preliminary inquiry is completed.

9.The excess of 43 temporary academic staff and the 130 vacancies for key academic posts. (audit para 4.4 b)

Here 43 temporary staff have been recruited against the permanent vacant positions.

The data with regard to the followings are available in the University website – www.jfn.ac.lk.

1.Latest number of students with a breakdown of the faculties

2.The courses different types of available at present

3.The current academic staff strength

Always, action is being taken to rectify the matters mentioned in the Audit Reports to avoid or minimise the audit queries.

Kindly note that some of the matters raised by the Auditor General have been in existence for more than 10-20 years. Most of the previous lapses have been rectified.