Patna,(BiharTimes): The Chancellor of Nalanda University, Amartya Sen, has threatened to resign after the finance ministry raised pointed queries on its financial management.

According to the Indian Express report at its crux is a massive Rs 2,727 crore financial support package to the university over a period of 12 years. The finance ministry’s Department of Expenditure has asked the Ministry of External Affairs, the nodal ministry for the project, the reasons why government rules should not apply to the project. The university is yet to begin functioning fully, and its campus is still under construction in Rajgir in Nalanda district of Bihar.

But at present the vice-chancellor and faculty members have their office in Delhi.

According to the daily the provocation for the crisis, sources said, was the huge expenditure being incurred on maintaining the governing body of the university, known earlier as the Nalanda Mentor Group, as well as the tax-free salaries to the tune of $80,000 dollars per year to some of the top functionaries of the university.

It needs to be mentioned that the salary packages of faculty range around $50,000-55,000 per year.

The report, quoting sources, said that the Nobel Laureate got upset by these queries and conveyed to the MEA at the highest levels that he would resign if such objections were not opposed and quashed.

He is learnt to have given a similar message to the Prime Minister’s Office and the Planning Commission.

Surprised by his move the government is said to be looking at some of the amendments to the Nalanda University Act that could possibly grant full financial autonomy and also a permanent tenure to the university top brass.

The argument of the University has been that full autonomy must mean complete financial independence. But since the government is putting much of the money, the finance ministry feels there has to be oversight and accountability. This view has takers even in the MEA, the report added.

A high-level meeting was planned Monday to resolve this issue, but was called off at the last moment leading to further speculation.

The Nalanda University (Amendment Bill), 2013 was introduced in the Rajya Sabha last September by the Ministry of External Affairs.

The amendments seek to provide for the Government of India to meet the University’s capital and recurring expenditure to the extent urequired and also to ensure that the university attains a truly international stature and is able to attract eminent academics from across the world.

However, there have been concerns raised––among others by the Parliamentary Standing Committee––about the immunities and privileges being extended to the university.

The Indian Express also reported that more recently, President Pranab Mukherjee wrote to the Ministry of External Affairs asking it to speed up processes related to the University, appoint a CEO and shift staff operating from Delhi to the campus in Rajgir.

Nalanda University is the brainchild of the former President A P J Abdul Kalam.

Meanwhile, External Affairs Minister Salman Khurshid said that the government is looking into the matter.
“We are taking some steps and would bring them before the cabinet,” he said.