Sports University Controversy Deepens: HC Stays VC’s Orders, Seeks CCTV Footage Preservation
Kanwar Inder Singh/ royalpatiala.in News/ May 21,2026
Pushpinder Singh Gill, VC , Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, Patiala suffered a setback after the Punjab and Haryana High Court stayed the orders issued by him.
Acting on a civil writ petition filed by Anubhav Walia against the Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, Justice Namit Kumar of the Punjab and Haryana High Court has stayed Walia’s transfer to a lower post and ordered the preservation of CCTV footage, along with audio recordings, from the VC Room dated April 22, 2026, and May 4, 2026.
Walia and Gill have remained at loggerheads since Gill’s appointment as Vice-Chancellor of the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University. Walia has challenged the appointments of the officiating Registrar and Deputy Registrar, alleging that due procedures were ignored during the selection of these key posts.
In his petition, Walia further alleged that within days of the appointment, the official concerned was given the additional responsibility of officiating Principal of Prof Gursewak Singh Government College of Physical Education. Later, the additional officiating charge of Director Sports of the university was also assigned to the same person.
Anubhav Walia, who is appointed as controller of examination on October 1,2021 at Sports University has filed the instant petition under Articles 226/227 of the Constitution of India, seeking issuance of a writ of certiorari for quashing the transfer order of the petitioner dated 05.05.2026, passed by Vice Chancellor; show cause notice dated 05.05.2026 and order/notification dated 08.02.2026, whereby Pushpinder Singh Gill has been appointed as Vice Chancellor of the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, Patiala. Walia alleges that Pushpinder Singh Gill’s appointment as VC also violates the UGC guidelines. He also challenged his appointment and the court has issued a notice on this.
The court has allowed Anubhav Walia (petitioner) to continue on the post of Controller of Examinations and also ordered to preserve the CCTV footage along with audio recordings dated 22.04.2026 and 04.05.2026 of respondent No.5-Vice Chancellor’s room.
Walia alleged that “the vice chancellor of the sports university Pushpinder Singh Gill has ordered his transfers from the post of Controller of Examinations and posted him at the Constituent College of the University at Guru Nanak Government College, Kala Afghana, District Gurdaspur on dated 05.05.2026 which is outside his cadre and he has been ordered to report to the officiating Principal of the said college who is much lower in rank than him and is drawing salary lower than him”.
He further submits that “the said order has been issued due to the mala fide CWP-15934-2026 -2-intentions of the vice chancellor and in abuse of the administrative powers vested upon him”
Swapan Shorey, deputy advocate general, Punjab accepts the orders on university’s behalf and seeks time to file reply.
The judge in his order said “Operation of the impugned order dated 05.05.2026 (P-18) shall remain stayed till the next date of hearing and respondent No.3- University is also directed to preserve the CCTV footage along with audio recordings dated 22.04.2026 and 04.05.2026 of respondent No.5- Vice Chancellor’s room.”
