Agartala: The report of administrative audit committee prepared by Internal Quality Assurance Cell of Tripura University for the academic year 2022-23 has revealed the shambolic state of the institution’s financial affairs.
The report, prepared by a three-member committee, headed by Dr Deepak Sharma, Registrar Tripura University flagged a series of lapses in the financial operations of the University authorities and recommended remedial measures, copies of which are in possession with EastMojo. Apart from Dr Sharma, the committee also comprised Professor WC Singh, Registrar Manipur University and CMA Dr BB Mishrma, Finance Officer Tezpur University as members.
According to the findings of the report, TDS on GST has not been deducted from the goods and services bill paid by the University from 2017 which is mandatory as per the GST Act. Similarly, GST is not being collected for accommodation charges in the university’s guest house and fee collection from the students. The committee in its recommendation advised the University authorities to fix the issues and introduce GST invoices for all the services.
In case of different projects running in the University, the report noted discrepancies in the utilization of the funds. “The balance amount shown in the balance sheet, individual project ledger in the university’s internal software and utilization certificates submitted to the funding agencies are different”, the reports reads. The committee suggested undertaking proper reconciliation to address those issues.
The report also mentioned that the internal audit reports are not available when the administrative audit was being conducted. The committee has recommended the University to conduct such audits on regular basis along with green, waste and energy audits.
Some lacunas were also found out in the Earned Leave encashment and Leave Travel Concession. “Income on EL encashment, LTC and Children Education allowance are not being deducted and not being shown in the Form 16”, the report noted. In the recommendation column, the committee has said that the Income Tax rules must be followed letter and spirit.
Dear Reader,
Over the past four years, EastMojo revolutionised the coverage of Northeast India through our sharp, impactful, and unbiased coverage. And we are not saying this: you, our readers, say so about us. Thanks to you, we have become Northeast India’s largest, independent, multimedia digital news platform.
Now, we need your help to sustain what you started.
We are fiercely protective of our ‘independent’ status and would like to remain so: it helps us provide quality journalism free from biases and agendas. From travelling to the remotest regions to cover various issues to paying local reporters honest wages to encourage them, we spend our money on where it matters.
Now, we seek your support in remaining truly independent, unbiased, and objective. We want to show the world that it is possible to cover issues that matter to the people without asking for corporate and/or government support. We can do it without them; we cannot do it without you.
Support independent journalism, subscribe to EastMojo.
Thank you,
Karma Paljor
Editor-in-Chief, eastmojo.com
On the increasing number of unattended RTIs and legal cases related to the regularization of the DRW and casual staff, the audit report said that a separate column for disposal of RTS applications with details may be inserted in the RTI master register and all contractual staff should be converted to outsourced manpower with benefits like ESIC and EPF in order to evade legal cases.
Several key issues like unavailability of placement funds, policy for consultancy fee, reversed cheques etc had been flagged in the report. It is worthy to be mentioned here that the administrative audit was conducted in the month of September 2023.
Also Read | SIT probe on Tripura Cricket body corruption begins
Trending Stories
- Nagaland: Kyrgyzstan wrestlers train Naga athletes in Kohima
- Arunachal CM pledges Rs 5 cr for Olympic gold medalists
- Nagaland: Northern Angami women leaders’ conference held
- Ukhrul bank heist: Robbers flee towards Myanmar border
- Nagaland CM launches ‘His Majesty’s headhunters’ book
- Manipur: How dumping sites turned into street libraries in Tamenglong
