Delhi Education Minister Atishi has written to the Directorate of Higher Education (DHE) directing immediate release of the third quarterly grant of 12 colleges which are fully funded by the Delhi Government.

The matter is currently being heard by the Delhi High Court wherein a notice was issued to the Finance Department to expedite the disbursement of funds.

Expressing her concerns over laxity in the matter as it creates substantial obstacles in fulfilling vital financial obligations of the colleges, Atishi directed the DHE to propose a mechanism under which the salaries, arrears, pension, medical bills and other dues of the staff and faculties of these 12 colleges can be paid in time.

The Leader of Opposition in Delhi Assembly, Ramvir Singh Bidhuri slammed the the AAP Government for not disbursing the salaries to the 12 Delhi Government-run colleges. 

“In the last 8 years, such a situation has come many times when the teachers of these 12 colleges and the entire staff have not received salaries. It is shameful that Arvind Kejriwal  Government takes credit of  the best education system but they are unable to release salaries of 12 colleges,” Bidhuri added.

 “This is regarding the immediate release of the third quarterly grant of 12 colleges which are fully funded by the Delhi Government. Despite the increased budgetary allocations by the Delhi Government, there are ongoing issues in processing essential payments including salaries, pensions, arrears, medical bills. These issues are primarily attributed to the delay in fund disbursement by the DHE,” Atishi wrote in the letter.

The letter further said that this delay in fund disbursal is creating substantial obstacles in fulfilling vital financial obligations of the colleges, particularly the disbursement of salaries which have been pending for months.

It is causing undue hardship to the staff and faculties of these colleges.

The allocated fund of these colleges, which was `132 crore in 2014-15 was increased three-folds to `400 crore in 2023-24.

On August 25, Atishi questioned the finance department over the nearly “one-and-a-half-month delay.”

In a note, she said the fund was approved in June, but it has not reached the colleges. The Minister asked the finance department about the delay between the announcement and the implementation of her order.