Chandigarh, May 21 -- Panjab University (PU) failed to recover fees to the tune of Rs.13 crore from scheduled caste (SC) students availing the Post Matric Scholarship (PMS) scheme from Punjab, an audit of the varsity's 2023-24 accounts has revealed.

Under the centrally sponsored scheme, the state government transfers non-refundable fees and maintenance charges into students' bank accounts, from where they are expected to deposit the amount with their institution.

In September 2018, PU formalised this arrangement, directing all departments to take written undertakings from eligible students committing to pay their fees once the scholarship money reaches their accounts. That system, the audit found, existed only on paper.

Across four aca...