Teachers oppose move to affiliate colleges of Haryana with PU

DORAHA: The Punjab Educationists Forum led by former Principal Tarsem Bahia took a serious note of the move of Haryana to re-affiliate some of its colleges to Panjab University, Chandigarh, and cautioned that it can widen the inter-state gap and the ignoring of interests of Punjab.

Lovleen Bains

Doraha, February 19

The Punjab Educationists Forum led by former Principal Tarsem Bahia took a serious note of the move of Haryana to re-affiliate some of its colleges to Panjab University, Chandigarh, and cautioned that it can widen the inter-state gap and the ignoring of interests of Punjab.

Forum president Tarsem Bahia expressed that it is a well-known fact that Panjab University is passing through a serious financial crises and the court is trying its level best to resolve the financial crises by summoning both the funding agencies of the Centre and the state.

“The Panjab University authorities, rather than impressing upon the funding agencies to pay their due share, seem to be more convinced by the idea of re-affiliation of Haryana colleges to the PU, for which the former is ready to pay its financial share to meet the financial crises of the PU,” he said.

He said this move would adversely affect the promotion of Punjabi language and culture and divert the attention and resources of the university from resolving problems of Punjab economy and society.

“This move is aimed at weakening the academic and administrative control of Punjab on this premier institution, which was established in 1882. It is considered to be the prime responsibility of the university to take care of the language, culture and heritage of the parent state. The present move may resolve the financial crises of Panjab University to some extent, but create number of controversies like tussle between neighbouring states of Punjab and Haryana. This move could disturb the congenial atmosphere of Punjab as it happened during the move to convert this university to Central University,” he expressed.

Former president of the Government College Teachers’ Association Jaipal Singh rued that it could actually prove to be an anti-Punjab move. “This will result in reorganisation of the Senate and the Syndicate. Some additional seats will have to be created to accommodate the Chief Minister, Education Minister, Education Secretary, DPI Colleges etc. of Haryana. The present quota of the Punjab Senate and Syndicate will be affected. It seems some anti-Punjab forces are creating financial crises for Panjab University themselves and for their vested political interests trying to resolve it by re-entry of the colleges of some districts of Haryana.”