Odisha govt withholds salary of principals, clerks of 233 degree colleges for negligence

The Odisha Higher Education department on Saturday withheld the salary of principals and head clerks of 233 colleges across Odisha for alleged gross negligence.

In a letter to all the principals of those colleges, the department cited non-compliance with previous orders by the Assistant Director of the department even after repeated reminders.

While the exact reason is yet to be revealed, the Higher Education Department in its order, said, “You have failed to furnish the required information in response to the letters of the Assistant Director even after repeated reminders. It shows gross negligence in discharging government duty on your part along with failure to carry out instructions of authorities of the Higher Education Department.”

The department directed the principals to not draw and release the salary/remuneration for the month of May 2023 of themselves as well as of the head clerk/clerk of the concerned colleges till compliance of the orders are made and clearance given from the department.

The colleges include five from Angul, 12 from Balasore, 16 from Bargarh, one from Bhadrak, 23 from Bolangir, one from Boudh, 24 from Cuttack, three from Deogarh, 13 from Dhenkanal, four from Gajapati, 18 from Ganjam, 12 from Jagatsinghpur, 13 from Jajpur, six from Jharsuguda, five from Kalahandi, one from Kandhamal, six each from Kendrapara, Mayurbhanj, Khordha and Keonjhar, five from Koraput, one from Malkangiri, two from Nabarangpur, seven from Nayagarh, one from Nuapada, nine from Puri, three from Rayagada, seven from Sambalpur, one from Sonepur and five colleges from Sundargarh.