Mangalore University in a soup over misuse of RUSA funds

Mangalore University in a soup over misuse of RUSA funds

Mangalore Today News Network

Bengaluru, April 14, 2025: The Mangalore University (MU) is in the dock for allegedly misusing Rs 7 crore it received under the Rashtriya Uchchatar Shiksha Abhiyan (RUSA-1) for construction of boys and girls hostels.

The expert committee constituted by the Karnataka State Higher Education Council for verification of the fund utilisation was shocked to see no hostel buildings on the campus. When the committee demanded the authorities to produce documents, the authorities tried to “mislead” the committee by saying the funds had been diverted for construction of an “international hostel.” Interestingly, in the utilisation certificate submitted to the Higher Education Department, the university had claimed that it had constructed two hostels.

Show-cause notice issued

The matter was also placed before the State Project Director’s (SPD) meeting chaired by the principal secretary to the Higher Education department. A show-cause notice was issued to the university authorities following a decision in the said meeting. However, the sources from the department revealed to DH that the explanation offered was not satisfactory.

“The Higher Education Council recommended recovery of the funds misused by the university and also to impose penalties. New secretary has taken charge of the department now and we will place the matter before him,” said a senior official of the department.

As explained by the officials of the department, the funds released under the RUSA should be utilised only for the purpose they were allocated. While 60 per cent of RUSA funds is from the Centre, the state contributes the balance 40 per cent.

Utilisation certificate

RUSA-1 was implemented between 2013 and 2017. The Higher Education institutions and universities were asked to submit the utilisation certificate soon after the completion of the projects for which the funds were allocated.

Of the Rs 7 crore sanctioned to MU, Rs 3.5 crore was for construction of boys hostel and Rs 3.5 crore for girls hostel.

When contacted, Mangalore University Vice Chancellor P L Dharma said that the university had also ordered for an internal inquiry.

“Following the decision taken in the recent syndicate meeting, we have ordered for inquiry. An inquiry a notice has been issued to the then finance officer. The inquiry will be completed in 15 days and the report will be submitted to the government,” the VC added.

Higher Education Minister Dr M C Sudhakar said that expert committee of Higher Education Council has submitted a report after visiting the university.

“Based on the report, we had issued notice to the university officials concerned. Now, we are waiting for the university inquiry report to take further action,” he added.