“Fence eating the crop”- Punjabi university teachers maligning the image of region’s prestigious institute

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Punjabi University Appointments: faculty members given additional posts — Punjabi University

“Fence eating the crop”- Punjabi university teachers maligning the image of region’s prestigious institute

Kanwar Inder Singh/ April 17,2023

Punjabi university, Patiala was established on April 30,1962. This is the second University in the world to be named after a language, the first being Hebrew University of Israel. Initially University’s jurisdiction area was fixed as the 16 km radius having only 9 colleges. But, now the university caters to the educational needs of nine Districts of Punjab.

The university has a rich history of six decades. In these six decades, the university has seen many ups and downs. The university has achieved many acclaimed in the past.

Now, it’s an open secret that the university has earned a ‘bad name’ due to the internal politics of teaching faculty. They kept no stone untoward to bring a bad name to the educational institution of repute. The proverb ‘fence eating the crop’ deem fit in the present scenario.

Now, in the latest series of act, university’s senior most faculty member Prof Pushpinder Singh Gill, ‘acting as his whims and fancies’ has written a letter to the chief minister Bhagwant Mann about the “Sorry State of Affairs at Punjabi University, Patiala”.

In this letter he accuses the vice chancellor of the university Prof Arvind for his way of working, projecting himself a victim and criticizing the university in public. He added, “Being the eldest and the senior-most member of Punjabi University, I feel duty bound to speak on behalf of my fraternity as their spokesperson to clarify a few points to put the record straight.”

The said letter is signed by Prof Pushpinder Singh Gill, who is also an executive member of the Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) and written a line at the end of the letter “The Punjabi University Teachers Association strongly condemns the views expressed by Dr. Arvind and holds him accountable for his aberrant statements and any subsequent consequences”.

The PUTA disowned it from this act of Prof Gill and termed it as Prof Gill’s personnel thoughts

Punjabi University extends examination fees, form submission date for student“Fence eating the crop”- Punjabi university teachers maligning the image of region’s prestigious institute — Punjabi University

The infighting between the PUTA comes to fore as Prof. Nishan Singh Deol, President PUTA has categorically stated, “No, it’s not an official statement. This is Prof Gill’s own views. When asked how Prof Gill can use the name of PUTA, Deol said we will take up this matter in our upcoming executive meeting. “

Another member of PUTA’s executive Dr. Gulshan Bansal has commented on a Facebook post shared by Malwinder Singh Mali, a former employee of Department of Public Relations, Punjabi University Patiala, “The views expressed in the above letter claiming to be from PUTA are never discussed in any executive or general house of PUTA. I, as an executive member of PUTA, strongly detest that a particular elected member of PUTA has used the name of association for airing his personal views without getting it approved in the executive meeting of PUTA. So, these views are personal views of the said member only.”

When contacted Prof Pushpinder Singh Gill, a senior Professor in the Department of Management and an aspirant for vice –chancellor post when the aam admi party (AAP) came into power in Punjab said “ I had written this letter as an individual, as senior most faculty and an executive member of the PUTA. At the time of flashing the letter, PUTA’s vice president, secretary, joint secretary were sitting with me. They knew it, what I am writing.”

Later he again called up and said , talk to the secretary of PUTA who himself identified as Maninder Singh. When questioned is this a PUTA’s views in the letter to the CM, he said Prof Gill has taken up the issue as a senior most faculty of the university. We all regard him. When questioned but the president and other members is not endorsing his (Prof Gill’s) views, he said will look into it. When questioned, it’s the same PUTA who has written a letter to the Governor of Punjab who happens to be the Chancellor of the university that Prof Pushpinder Gill’s appointment as Dean of Academic Affairs should be canceled. It is worth mentioning that Prof Pushpinder Gill was made Dean of Academic Affairs when faculty members resigned from all the administrative posts in protest against the then VC, Ravneet Kaur. Prof Maninder, secy PUTA go speechless. The self proclaimed representation of Prof Gill stands exposed as his PUTA colleagues have distanced from him.

A university faculty member on the condition of anonymity said ‘these acts of faculty members is hampering the admissions and earning a bad name in the society. They should behave, act as a responsible persons.”