Payment records go missing from NU’s exam section?

Nagpur: A week after TOI exposed how Nagpur University (NU) exam section was issuing flawed cheques over the years, it has come to fore that records of allowances paid to examiners have gone missing.
Though officials claimed all records were intact, some teachers complained they were yet to receive exam work allowances and fee for paper setting even after three years. Recently, when they approached exam section, they were allegedly told that the records were not available.
On July 17, TOI had reported that the NU exam section, which is under scanner over money disappearing from its lockers, has been dispatching cheques to paper setters, moderators and thesis valuers without signatures of the concerned official, or wrongly spelt names of the receiver. This is done to ensure the money is adjusted in the books while the receiver is unable to encash it.
Such cheques are being issued for paltry sums of Rs400 to Rs800 payable to paper setters, moderators and other exam section works for last several years. Besides this, travelling and dearness allowances, amounting to Rs2,000, are never paid though signatures are taken against realization of the payment.
Acting pro-vice chancellor Vinayak Deshpande said each rupee has been accounted for and even though examiners were not claiming their allowances, the money was going into teachers’ and students’ welfare funds. “But, we have started the process of settlement. On Wednesday, I asked the director of examinations to start online payments immediately. At least we can do it instantly for those who have submitted their bills,” he said.
Regarding records, he said advances are given for exam works and it takes time for reconciliation and submission of accounts.
Acting director of examinations and evaluation board Anil Hirekhan said has moved a proposal for online payment which is likely to be approved on Thursday. “We have laid out all steps for instant remittance of allowances for general exam works as well as for PhD,” he said.
Hirekhan said he has also called for the details of bills submitted and unclaimed ones. “I will go through them on Thursday,” he said.
NU conducts over 1,000 exams with number of papers varying for each course. Each teacher is paid Rs350 per paper. Since three sets have to be made, the total amount comes to Rs1,050 beside Rs100 paid as travel allowance for local teachers. NU needs at least 1,000 teachers to set these papers. Thus, the actual amount comes to Rs11.50 lakh. The figures are unavailable for PhD work.
Timeline
* On March 4, TOI reports lakhs missing from exam section lockers
* Administration led by SP Kane and former exam director Niraj Khaty refuse to file FIR or initiate internal inquiry
* On March 5, students organizations protest at exam section but to no avail
* On March 12, students from 10 colleges initiate signature campaign and forward it to governor alleging NU inaction in exam section money going missing
* Khaty reluctantly assures to initiate internal inquiry but nothing was done
* On July 17, TOI exposed modus operandi of exam section in issuing erroneous cheques to ensure beneficiaries can never claim money
* July 24, NU exam section officials say records of payment due and those settled so far are not available