The state government has denied the University of Mumbai (MU) Rs 338.6 crore over the last 23 years, the varsity claimed in its senate meeting on Thursday, owing to its failure to correct discrepancies in staff recruitment.

According to information presented by MU’s officials, the government’s pending dues since 1995 also include funds for the salaries of temporary non-teaching staff (Rs 7.54 crore), reimbursement for the money spent by the university on teachers’ salaries (Rs 39.57 crore) and the pending amount for the sixth pay commission salaries (Rs 5.54 crore).

In 2015, a state task force found the university had illegally transferred employees appointed to positions not aided by the state to the government-aided posts, thus increasing the state’s financial liability.

Though the government has directed MU to come clean on its appointment of teaching staff for reinstating grants, the university is yet to do so.

While there is no official data that reveals the number of such transfers, MU claimed the state government has withheld 25% of salary grants for 705 out of 789 regular, non-teaching staff. “Many of these appointments suffer from nepotism,” said a senate member, who did not wish to be named.

“With the state government refusing to release the full grants, MU has to pay the difference in salaries from its general fund. Earlier, it had to break its fixed deposit to stay afloat,” said Sudhakar Tamboli, a member of MU’s senate.

A MU official said many of these staff members were retired and awaiting retirement benefits. Speaking in a senate meeting on Thursday, Rupesh Malusare, a representative of non-teaching staff, demanded the university make the state task force’s report public, so that employees marked ‘irregular’ can present their arguments. Tamboli said MU should find a solution to the issue by consulting its employees.

“We are following up the matter with the state,” said Ajay Deshmukh, MU registrar.

First Published: Apr 27, 2019 04:46 IST