Jaipur: Rajasthan governor’s secretariat has directed Rajasthan University’s registrar to probe how a leave order concerning former vice-chancellor Alpana Kateja was altered during her tenure in a way that could benefit her pension, service record and retirement benefits.At the heart of the issue is whether a dean committee had the authority to approve the change. Former Rajasthan University Teachers’ Association president Sanjay Kumar, who complained to the governor, said the dean committee was not authorised to amend such service-related orders, especially those carrying financial implications. He said only the competent authority, the Syndicate, could approve such a change.The original order, issued when Kateja was appointed Rajasthan University vice-chancellor, said she was granted “leave without pay” from her post as professor. This meant her time as VC would not count as service in her substantive post as professor.However, an order dated April 28, 2026, changed the wording to say “Alapana Kateja is granted permission to join as VC”.The altered wording, Kumar claimed, is significant. If Kateja was only on leave without pay, her three-year tenure as vice-chancellor would not be counted while calculating her service as professor. But if the order is treated as permission to join as VC while retaining her lien on the professor’s post, those three years could be added to her service record.“The change could affect the calculation of her length of service, pension and other financial benefits,” he said.He alleged the amendment was made nearly two years and eight months into Kateja’s tenure as VC and without approval from the Syndicate.“This amendment to service-related documents was done by misusing the powers of the office. This is against the rules and the University Act. We wrote to the governor seeking an inquiry, as these changes raise serious questions about possible financial corruption,” Kumar said.He also questioned how Kateja received vigilance clearance after her tenure ended despite alleged pending inquiries against her.In a letter dated Oct 7, the governor’s secretariat asked the registrar to examine the legality of the amendments and their possible financial and service-related implications. The registrar has been asked to submit a report within 15 days.Kateja currently serves as professor in Rajasthan University’s Economics department.
