Former V-C's wife asked to return house rent allowance

Former V-C's wife asked to return house rent allowance

Vrinda Khole, wife of former vice-chancellor (V-C) of Mumbai University Vijay Khole, has moved the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) against an order passed by the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) asking her to return the amount she earned as House Rent Allowance (HRA) between May 20, 2005 and September 27, 2009.

The government on January 12 had sent her a recovery notice, seeking back the amount of Rs5.01 lakh, as she was residing with her husband at the V-C’s bungalow, the official residence at Kalina campus.

A single member bench of Jog Singh issued the notice and sought its reply. “The respondents have been granted time till April 30 to file their reply,” said Khole’s advocate Sandeep Marne.

Vrinda Khole had joined the National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (formerly known as Institute for Research in Reproduction) as research officer on January 2, 1985.

She was promoted as senior research officer on July 1, 1990 and at the post of deputy director (known as Scientist ‘F’) from July 1, 2005. She is due to retire on April 30, 2014.

Vrinda moved in to the V-C’s official residence after her husband Vijay Khole was allotted a bungalow in Kalina campus in May, 2005.

She was still earning the HRA. The ICMR asked for the HRA paid to her as she was living in a government accommodation.
Source: DNA India

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Exodus of Scientists from DRDO

Attrition of scientists from the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) has reduced in the last two years. Number of scientists, mainly at junior level, who have resigned from DRDO during 2006-2009 is as under:-

Year - Total No. of Resignations 2006 - 322 2007 - 273 2008 - 150 2009(Till date) - 61 Scientists, who had resigned, have indicated personal/domestic ground as the reasons for leaving DRDO. However, it is assumed that increased opportunities that was available in private sector industries is the main reason of such exodus.

Sixth Central Pay Commission has recommended a number of incentives for scientists, which have been accepted and implemented by the Government. DRDO has also made efforts to enhance their career by providing study leave for acquiring higher qualifications viz., PhD, MTech, etc, sponsoring scientists for attending conferences/seminars/symposia/ short and long term training courses in frontier areas of research within the country and abroad, mentoring of young scientists, creating better working environment and social life in living campuses, etc.

This information was given by Defence Minister Shri AK Antony in a written reply to Shri GM Siddeshwara in Lok Sabha today.

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