Punjabi university teachers up ante against the officiating VC; alleged she spoiled the environment
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in
After the resignation of Dr. B.S. Ghuman from the post of Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, the Govt. of Punjab has given additional charge to additional Chief Secretary to Punjab Govt. Ravneet Kaur on 25 November 2020. Also the Punjab Govt. constituted a search committee under the Chairmanship of Chief Secretary to Govt. of Punjab to find the eligible Vice-Chancellor.
Punjabi University Teachers’ Association (PUTA), Punjabi University, Patiala had filed a write petition (CWP 4390 of 2021) regarding the handing over charge of the post of Vice-Chancellor, Punjabi University, Patiala temporarily to I.A.S. Officer who is ineligible to hold the charge as per the UGC 2010 rules and regulations and UGC rules have not been read with the Punjabi University Statute. The council for Punjabi University Teachers Association, Ranjit Singh Kalra argued before the High Court that appointment of an IAS officer as a Vice Chancellor is gross violations UGC regulations. It was also argued that the search committee was not constituted according to the of UGC regulations 2010 by the Punjab Government. The search committee must be constituted by Chancellor and advertisement for appointment of new VC should be given by the Chancellor or by the search committee. It was also argued by giving charge to IAS officer, the representation of the state government has increased in the Syndicate of the University thereby increasing the chances of arbitrary decisions in violation of rules and regulations. The court has taken the cognizance and notice has been issued to the respondents which include Chancellor of the University, State Government, Punjabi University and the IAS officer to whom charge has been given.
PUTA President Dr. Nishan Singh Deol said that temporary Vice-Chancellor Ravneet Kaur (IAS) has spoiled the peaceful environment of Punjabi University, Patiala. She has not given the extension hundreds of employees who were working on Ad-hoc and contractual basis. These employees are not getting their salaries since the last three or four months and she has also aggravated the problems of Safai Sewak of Punjabi University, Patiala who are working daily wages by reducing their numbers of working days. Along with this, the university authority has become totally handicapped because temporary Vice-Chancellor is not coming to the office since two months. The university authority should give the extension to the employees and solve the problem of Safai Sewak immediately.
February 24,2021
