Mangaluru – Mangalore University is facing intense scrutiny after an internal audit exposed a financial loss of nearly ₹26 crore due to the unauthorised recruitment of 359 contractual and temporary staff between 2018 and 2023. The appointments were reportedly made without approval from the syndicate or the state government, as flagged by a recent government audit.

Syndicate member Raghuraj, who raised the alarm, stated that the actual figure might cross ₹30 crore. “We’ve asked the finance department for a re-evaluation and demanded the original syndicate approval documents. A formal inquiry into the irregularities will be proposed in the next meeting,” he added.

In response to the audit, the state government directed the university to cut down staff numbers. As a result, 144 temporary employees, mainly clerical staff and those in lower-grade positions, were terminated, said finance officer Y Sangappa. Currently, 230 contract workers remain, deemed essential for daily functioning.

Sangappa also revealed that while the university has 476 approved non-teaching and 273 teaching posts, a large number are either vacant or will soon be due to retirements. Compounding the crisis, the university is grappling with a severe cash crunch, unable to cover retirement benefits. For 2024–25 alone, ₹14 crore is required to settle dues of 24 retiring employees.

The revelations have triggered calls for financial accountability, with stakeholders urging stricter governance and transparency in hiring practices.