As the pensioners wait for the date set by the Punjab and Haryana High Court for the university and the state government to release the annuity, the university officials are a flustered lot.

Dr M S Kang, V-C, PAU, said, “Of Rs 20 crore received in the mid year from the state government, only Rs 10.7 crore is left. We will use the money to disburse pensions.”

The university gives allowance to 2,500-odd pensioners costing Rs 2.5 crore every month.

Dr Kang, who inherited the pension crisis when he joined the university more than a year and a half ago, adds, “Disbursing pensions is not the responsibility of the V-C, who spends more time in research and education but it has become my headache. We have paid pensions for September and can easily tide over till December. After that, we will take the call.”

The university despite paying the pensions owes Leave Travel Allowance (LTA) to its pensioners which is pending since 2004.

As for now, the pensioners have no option but to wait. “The university had sought time till March 31, 2009, to clear all the dues but the court has accepted to extend the date till December 31 this year only,” said M R Passi, co-convenor, Confederation of PAU Pensioners’ Association.