Section 15 of Central Universities Act, 2009 - Finance Officer
Section 15 of the Central Universities Act, 2009 deals with the Finance Officer of a Central University. It places the detailed method of appointment, powers and duties of the Finance Officer under the Statutes governing the University.
Updated: 15 September 2026
Text of Section 15 - Finance Officer
Section 15. Finance Officer.
The Finance Officer shall be appointed in such manner, and shall exercise such powers and perform such duties, as may be prescribed by the Statutes.
Meaning and scope of Section 15
Section 15 is an enabling provision. Instead of setting out every appointment condition and financial function in the main body of the Act, it requires those matters to be prescribed by the Statutes. Accordingly, Section 15 should be read together with the applicable Statutes of the concerned Central University and, where relevant, the First Schedule to the Central Universities Act, 2009.
| Provision | Section 15, Central Universities Act, 2009 |
|---|---|
| Subject | Finance Officer |
| Core rule | Appointment, powers and duties are governed by the Statutes. |
| Status under the Act | The Finance Officer is one of the officers of the University under Section 9. |
Finance Officer under the Statutes
The First Schedule to the Act contains the statutory framework for the Finance Officer. In substance, the Finance Officer is a whole-time salaried officer appointed by the Executive Council on the recommendation of a Selection Committee. The statutory framework also addresses tenure, service conditions, temporary performance of duties when the office is vacant or the officer is unavailable, and the Finance Officer's role in relation to the Finance Committee.
The Finance Officer has an important institutional role in supervising University funds, advising on financial policy and carrying out financial functions assigned under the Act, Statutes, Ordinances or by the competent University authority. The detailed powers must therefore be checked against the Statutes and Ordinances applicable to the particular Central University.
Relationship with Section 9
Section 9 of the Central Universities Act, 2009 lists the Finance Officer among the officers of a Central University. Section 15 then specifically provides the legal basis for prescribing the manner of appointment and the officer's powers and duties.
First Finance Officer and transitional appointments
A special rule applies during the initial establishment of a University. Section 44 contains transitional provisions for the first office-holders. It provides, among other matters, for appointment of the first Registrar and the first Finance Officer by the Visitor for the statutory transitional term. This is a special transitional arrangement and should be distinguished from the ordinary appointment framework under Section 15 read with the Statutes.
Why the Finance Officer matters
The Finance Officer is central to financial administration and accountability in a Central University. The statutory scheme connects the office with supervision of funds, financial advice, expenditure controls, University property and investments, preparation and presentation of financial material, and other functions assigned by the competent authorities. The precise application depends on the governing Statutes and Ordinances of the University concerned.
Related provisions
Official legal source
For the authoritative text of the Act and its Schedule, refer to India Code - Central Universities Act, 2009 (PDF).