PU financial crunch: Haryana may chip in

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 10

Haryana may reopen the chapter it closed almost four decades back. Coming to Panjab University’s rescue, Haryana today told the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the government had sent a proposal regarding the restoration of its earlier position, which included funding.

As the case revolving around the varsity’s financial crunch came up for resumed hearing, an affidavit filed by the State was placed before the Bench of Justice SS Saron and Justice Avneesh Jhingan. Among other things, it said a proposal for the restoration of the earlier position had been forwarded to the Centre. The proposal was sent after a meeting was held with the PU VC. 

The development is significant as the Bench was earlier told that Haryana colleges were indeed affiliated to the varsity. But things changed in 1974, when the then Haryana Chief Minister was made to sit among the audience while his Punjab counterpart shared the dais during an event. Haryana colleges were eventually de-affiliated

The Chandigarh Administration and the Municipal Corporation, meanwhile, sought additional time from the Bench to make clear their stand on Panjab University’s maintenance. The Bench, on the previous date of hearing, had issued notice to the Municipal Commissioner and the UT Administration after the varsity told the court that it was being treated as a “dark spot” in the city.  The PU counsel submitted that the university campus proposal in Sector 14 and Sector 25 of the city was being ignored by the corporation and the administration. Seeking directions concerned to make provisions for the PU’s civic needs in the budget, senior advocate Girish Agnihotri and Bhuwan Vats added on the varsity’s behalf: “The university is being ignored by the UT Administration and it has to spend about Rs 200 lakh on the lighting, roads, sanitation and other facilities which should be looked after by the Municipal Corporation as is done in the other sectors.” 

The Bench was also told that the varsity was satisfied with the grant enhancement from the UGC. The Bench was also told that meetings of its think-tank on finances and the board of finances are scheduled in the coming weeks on the issue of annual budget.  The case has its genesis in a suo-motu notice taken by the High Court last year. Justice Mahesh Grover of the High Court had asserted that Panjab University’s stakeholders were constantly obstructing its efforts to be declared a Central University. Justice Grover had asserted that its stakeholders had done little to share the financial burden, and its declaration as a Central University could possibly have ameliorated the situation.