Punjabi University’s former VC’s expected re-appointment starts haunting PUTA; requested CM not to consider his application
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ October 6,2024
Speculations are rife that former Punjabi University vice chancellor Prof Arvind is going to be re-appointed as regular vice chancellor of this prestigious university by the state government. His re-appointment as VC seems to start haunting the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA).
As per available information, PUTA has written a letter to the chief minister of Punjab, with a subject “REQUEST NOT TO CONSIDER DR. ARVIND’S APPLICATION FOR THE POST OF VICE CHANCELLOR AT PUNJABI UNIVERSITY, PATIALA” signed by Dr Bhupinder Singh, president PUTA and Dr Maninder Singh, secretary, PUTA.
When contacted the president of PUTA, Bhupinder Singh, he denied and said” PUTA has not written any letter to the chief minister. But we had filed a case against Prof Arvind on his eligibility issue in the high court ”
As per sources, Prof Arvind is amongst the front runner to grab this authoritative post. Punjab government has already advertised the post of vice chancellor and seems to be in final stage to appoint an educationist of repute.
To abstain him from taking up this re-appointment, Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) has written a letter to the chief minister of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann, in the last week of September 2024 requesting him not to consider Prof Arvind for the post of vice chancellor, Punjabi University.
As per the PUTA letter to CM “We, the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA), write to you (CM) with deep concern regarding the ongoing process for the appointment of the next Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, in light of recent developments. It has come to our notice through various sources that Dr. Arvind, the former Vice Chancellor of the university, has applied or get himself nominated for the position of Vice Chancellor Punjabi University, Patiala following the advertisement published in July 2024. However, we believe it is our duty to inform you that Dr. Arvind, does not meet the eligibility criteria required for holding this esteemed office.”
“Additionally, we are aware that a non-teaching association within the university has made a request to the government, seeking Dr. Arvind’s reappointment as Vice Chancellor. We would like to bring to your attention that the President of this same association had been previously terminated from university service and was later granted undue favors by Dr. Arvind during his tenure. Furthermore, guest teachers currently employed in the university have also written to the government advocating for Dr. Arvind’s reappointment. It is crucial to highlight that many of these guest faculty members were appointed during Dr. Arvind’s tenure, despite several being ineligible for their positions.” Such actions raise serious ethical questions about the fairness of the support being extended for his candidature added PUTA in their letter to CM.
“Considering these facts, PUTA firmly believes that appointing Dr. Arvind as Vice Chancellor again would not serve the best interests of the university. In fact, PUTA has already taken legal recourse and filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, challenging Dr. Arvind’s eligibility for this position. We strongly urge you to consider these critical points while making the decision for appointing anyone as Vice Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala” added PUTA.
Punjabi University’s former VC’s expected re-appointment starts haunting PUTA; requested CM not to consider his application. The post is vacant since Prof Arvind’s three year term ended on April 26,2024. After that, till today the secretary higher education Punjab government, KK Yadav, IAS is holding this post. The chancellor of the university has given three extensions-three months, two months and now 25 days to the officiating vice chancellor, KK Yadav IAS as the state government has not yet finalized the educationist who is going to take the reins of the university.
