Mysuru: The University Grants Commission (UGC) has issued a final warning to Yuvaraja’s College in Mysuru for failing to submit the utilisation certificate and other mandatory documents relating to Rs 1.5 crore released under the ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ scheme between 2010 and 2015.
The UGC has warned the college that failure to furnish the required documents could result in recovery of the entire grant along with interest accumulated over the years.
UGC seeks utilisation details
The UGC sent the latest communication to the college on August 12, stating that repeated communications seeking the utilisation certificate had not received the required response.
The commission described the latest communication as a final reminder and directed the college authorities to submit the fund utilisation certificate.
The grant was released under the ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ scheme during the period from 2010 to 2015. Although the scheme has since ended, the UGC said it has still not received the required financial and administrative documents from the college.
Apart from the utilisation certificate, the commission said accounts details, proceedings of the advisory committee meeting and other mandatory documents were also pending.
College warned of recovery with interest
The UGC has cautioned that the college could be required to repay the entire amount if it fails to furnish the requested documents.
The warning includes recovery of the grant along with interest for the period during which the funds have remained unaccounted for.
The latest notice follows repeated reminders from the higher education regulator, indicating that the issue has remained unresolved for several years.
The UGC’s action puts the responsibility on the college authorities to provide documentary evidence showing how the funds were utilised under the scheme.
Questions raised over use of funds
Sources from the University of Mysore have raised allegations about the manner in which the grant was utilised.
According to these sources, the college authorities may have misused the funds and that this could be the reason for the failure to submit the utilisation certificate.
However, these allegations have not been established through an official finding or investigation mentioned in the available information.
The sources questioned why the college had taken such a long time to furnish the documents if the grant had been properly utilised.
They pointed out that the funds were released more than a decade ago and questioned the continued absence of the mandatory records.
Scheme ended, but records remain pending
The UGC pointed out that the ‘College with Potential for Excellence’ scheme has already ended.
Despite the closure of the scheme, the commission said it has not received the accounts and other required documentation from the college.
Utilisation certificates are important for establishing whether grants provided by public institutions have been spent for their intended purposes. They also enable funding agencies to verify expenditure and maintain financial accountability.
In this case, the prolonged delay in submitting the documents has prompted the UGC to issue a final warning and threaten recovery of the grant with interest.
Final reminder puts college under pressure
The August 12 communication is the latest step in the UGC’s efforts to obtain the pending documents.
The wording of the notice indicates that the commission has already communicated with the college several times regarding the matter.
The final reminder means that the college now faces the possibility of financial recovery if it does not comply with the UGC’s direction.
The potential liability could exceed the original Rs 1.5 crore grant because the UGC has warned that interest for the intervening years could also be recovered.
Financial accountability in focus
The case has brought attention to the importance of maintaining proper records for government and regulatory grants.
Educational institutions receiving financial assistance are required to maintain accounts and submit utilisation certificates and other supporting documents to demonstrate that funds have been used for approved purposes.
The UGC’s latest notice indicates that the absence of such documentation can lead to recovery proceedings even years after a scheme has ended.
For Yuvaraja’s College, the immediate priority will be to address the UGC’s demand and furnish the pending records.
The college’s response could determine whether the matter is resolved through submission of the required documents or whether the UGC proceeds with recovery of the grant along with interest.
As of now, the UGC has issued a final warning, while allegations regarding possible misuse of the funds remain claims that would require official verification.