Pbi varsity V-C forms panel to look into inquiry reports

Tribune News Service 

Patiala, February 14

Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University Prof BS Ghuman has constituted a two-member high-profile committee to look into the inquiry reports prepared on the orders of former officiating Vice-Chancellor Anurag Verma after allegations were levelled against some officials of the university. 

Earlier, the university Syndicate had authorised the Vice-Chancellor to constitute a committee to look into the veracity of the reports for taking further necessary action. The sealed reports have been handed over to the Vice-Chancellor after the necessary administrative process.

The Vice-Chancellor said two high-ranked inquiry officers — former bureaucrats Jagjit Puri and VK Kapoor — would look into seven inquiry reports each.

Notably, after the Congress came to power in March last year, objections were raised over various purchases made by the university authorities during the SAD-BJP rule following which the then officiating Vice-Chancellor, Anurag Verma, marked over one dozen inquiries into various purchases. 

It was alleged that the university had made a flawed purchase of fire extinguishers worth Rs 58.40 lakh and smoke detector fire alarm system for Rs 21.41 lakh and an inquiry was marked into it on the complaint of Prof Pushpinder Singh Gill.  

Now, the Vigilance Department has initiated a probe into the allegations.

The issue

• After the Congress came to power in March last year, objections were raised over various purchases made by the university authorities during the SAD-BJP rule following which the then officiating Vice-Chancellor, Anurag Verma, marked over a dozen inquiries into various purchases. 
• Earlier, the university Syndicate had authorised the Vice-Chancellor to constitute a committee to look into the veracity of the reports for taking further necessary action.