VC appointment: Rs 31.20 lakhs as search committee expense

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The search committee for the appointment of VCs in digital and technological universities had expenses of Rs 31.20 lakh. The government has directed that the universities bear the amount. Retired judge Sudhanshu Dhulia, appointed by the Supreme Court, is the chairman of the search committee. The search committee met for four days at the Mascot Hotel in Thiruvananthapuram.

Rs 18 lakh was spent on Justice Dhulia's sitting fees, Rs 5 lakh on accommodation and food for the committee members, and Rs 2 lakh on travel expenses, totalling Rs 31.20 lakh. Dhulia received an additional Rs 6 lakh as sitting fees for holding the online meeting for two days. Business class air travel was also provided. Senior professors from institutions including IITs, who are members of the search committee, were allowed Rs 20,000 as sitting fees.

The government has ordered that the committee expenses be paid from the amount collected from self-financing engineering colleges to AICT and that this amount be returned when the universities pay. In the past, a maximum of Rs 10,000 was paid as honorarium to the members of the search committee. The Supreme Court had directed that the government should bear the expenses of the search committee.

Search Committee to meet again

The search committee will meet again to provide the names requested by the Supreme Court for the appointment of vice-chancellors in digital and technical universities. The names will be available tomorrow. The Supreme Court has ordered that the list be prepared with the most qualified candidates at the top and that it be submitted by Wednesday.