Delay in utilisation certificate submission hits varsity finances

Patna: Delayed submission of utilisation certificates of govt grants by state universities continues to create financial indiscipline on campuses and causes hardship for staff due to delayed salary releases. This issue was highlighted at a recent meeting of vice-chancellors chaired by governor-cum-chancellor Syed Ata Hasnain at Lok Bhavan.Officials of the state higher education department informed the chancellor that most universities have developed a habit of delayed submission of utilisation certificates, leading to financial indiscipline and delayed approval of annual budgets. It was revealed that universities have not submitted utilisation certificates for grants worth over Rs 600 crore.Taking a strict view, Hasnain directed vice-chancellors to submit the pending certificates at the earliest to ensure smooth functioning of universities.The state higher education director admitted that utilisation certificates for grants worth hundreds of crores were not submitted on time. However, following the chancellor’s directive, universities have begun submitting them, he said. The chancellor’s secretariat is monitoring the process.Education department sources said institutions are facing a financial crisis, delaying salaries and development projects primarily due to failure to submit utilisation certificates. This procedural lapse, along with non-compliance in updating employees’ data on govt portals, has resulted in delayed salary and pension payments to teaching and non-teaching staff.The sources added that several institutions have failed to submit utilisation certificates for funds received under schemes such as Rashtriya Uchchtar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA), halting further financial assistance. Due to failure to meet audit and documentation requirements, salary and pension grants are delayed, with funds often released on an ad-hoc basis.The Bihar State Higher Education Council (BSHEC) had earlier warned universities of shifting funds to better-performing institutions due to their continued failure to properly utilise funds and submit utilisation certificates on time.