Affiliate Khalsa colleges again, govt tells GNDU

AMRITSAR: Stepping towards safeguarding the interests of students and teachers, the state government has conveyed to the Guru Nanak Dev University authorities to initiate proceedings to revive the affiliation of Khalsa College for Women and Khalsa College of Education.

The Khalsa College for Women in Amritsar. Tribune file photo

GS Paul

Tribune News Service

Amritsar, July 26

Stepping towards safeguarding the interests of students and teachers, the state government has conveyed to the Guru Nanak Dev University authorities to initiate proceedings to revive the affiliation of Khalsa College for Women and Khalsa College of Education.

Both these colleges, which were originally affiliated with the GNDU, were shifted to Khalsa University (KU), which now stands scrapped.

The Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) said it would discuss the matter regarding affiliation with their legal experts given the fact that it was fighting a legal battle over the scrapping of Khalsa University.

KCGC honorary secretary Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said: “We have yet not received the government’s orders. It has passed the Act to scrap the university, but the official notification is yet to be issued. The matter is sub judice. Under existing circumstances, how can the government ask for the revival of affiliation of these colleges with the GNDU. We will seek legal opinion after we receive a copy of the orders,” he said.

The Special Secretary, Higher Education, has issued a letter dated July 21, addressed to the Registrar, GNDU, apprising him that since Khalsa University had been scrapped, the affiliation of both these colleges should be revived as per earlier arrangement.

Fresh admissions to both these institutions have already been stalled following the controversy over their affiliation.

Amritsar MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla, who has taken the initiative to get the colleges re-affiliated with the GNDU, said: “Both these colleges catered to girl students belonging to rural border belt. I would like to assure them that the affiliation will be revived and I will ensure that the admissions in the current session are not affected.”

The disaffiliation of both these colleges has not gone down well with the teachers as well. One of them said there was uncertainty as their aided posts (sanctioned) were transferred to Khalsa University from the GNDU. “It was in contravention of service rules of the state government’s higher education department,” he said.