FAISALABAD: The University of Agriculture Faisalabad vicechancellor has doled out millions of rupees as honorarium to hundreds of varsity employees for they have `performed excellently for the uplift of the institution.

However, no criteria has been adopted to measure the `performance` of any employee as the cash was transferred to their accounts across the board along with June 2015 salaries.

VC Dr Iqar Ahmed told Dawn that honorarium had been given to all employees under a Syndicate decision. He did not reply when asked what criteria had beenadopted for giving the honorarium.

MPA Rao Kashif Raheem, a member of the UAF Syndicate, told Dawn that syndicate had approved honorarium for those employees who had rendered excellent services for the academia. However, it was the responsibility of the VC to select eligible people. `Instead of Syndicate, it was the duty of the university administration to select eligible employees as the VC was the custodian university property.

Sources said more than Rs40 million were given to deans, directors, chairmen, professors, associate and assistant professors, lecturers, managerial staff and other employees in `recognition of theirservices that helped university to earn distinction nationally and internationally.

Campus News, an official publication of the UAF, said such a huge bonus had been given for the first time in the history of the university.

According to the UAF annual report 2014, as many as 81 professors, 58 associate professors, 221 assistantprofessors,2211ecturers, two senior research officers, 24 research officers and 10 teaching/ research staff are rendering their services.

Besides, scores of employees are serving in different administrative departments including registrar office, treasurer, examination, project directorate, auditoroffice, building and worl(s, power house, estate care, IT section etc.

They said up to Rs75,000 were given to dean/director or equivalent, Rs 50,000 to each chairman of teaching departments, Rs 30,000 to each professor, Rs 25,000 to associate professor, Rs 20,000 to assistant professor, Rs 15,000 to lecturer, Rs 2000 to each daily-wager and one-month basic pay to employees from grade 1 to 15.

Sources said at a meeting of the Senate, held a few days ago, one of its members had raised objection over issuance of bonus to the employees without any criteria.

He questioned the VC`s move release the amount across the board without ascertaining theperformance of the employees one by one. He contended that the honorarium was meant for the employees who had performed excellently.

Some faculty members requesting anonymity said it was misuse of public money. They said honorarium had also been given to such employees who had contributed nothing to their relevant departments/fields.

They said revenue earned through students` fees must be used for the uplift of the teaching and researchfacilities.

Sources said some UAF Laboratory School employees were the exception who were denied remuneration and they had reportedly moved the court.