Punjab Government assigns additional charge of Punjabi University VC to higher education secretary
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 20,2026
The Governor of Punjab and Chancellor of Punjabi University, Gulab Chand Kataria, has assigned the charge of Vice Chancellor of the university to the Secretary, Higher Education, Punjab Government, during the absence of Jagdeep Singh.
Incumbent Vice Chancellor Jagdeep Singh is on ex-India leave from May 20, 2026, to June 11, 2026. At present Sonali Giri, IAS is the Administrative Secretary, School Education and in addition Administrative Secretary, Higher Education & Languages and in addition Administrative Secretary,-cum-Director, Civil Aviation
Normally, the charge of Vice Chancellor is assigned to the Dean Academic Affairs or another senior faculty member during the leave period of the Vice Chancellor but this time the charge is given to secretary , Punjab government has raised many questions in the minds of university faculty, staff members.
Moreover the next date of hearing, challenging the appointment of Jagdeep Singh as vice chancellor, Punjabi University is May 26,2026. His appointment is challenged by Pushpinder Singh Gill a professor and an applicant for the post. The plea alleges that the selection process was “completely flawed” and contrary to the statutory mandate. It further claims that the appointment amounted to a colourable exercise of powers by the official respondents and an attempt to sideline merit.
Pushpinder Singh Gill has alleged that the appointment of Jadgeep Singh as vice chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala violates regulation 7.3 of the University Grants Commission (UGC), which requires a vice-chancellor to be a “distinguished academician” with at least 10 years’ experience as a professor in a university or 10 years’ experience in a reputed research or academic and administrative organisation, along with demonstrated academic leadership. So, Jagdeep Singh is “ineligible” for appointment.
