AUCT writes to Punjab Governor for action against Doaba College management

Amritsar, January 11

The Association of United College Teachers (AUCT) has written to the Governor of Punjab who is also the Chancellor of Guru Nanak Dev University (GNDU), requesting him to urge the Vice-Chancellor’s office to take action against the management of Doaba College, Jalandhar, on their complaint.

In a letter addressed to the Chancellor, GNDU, Jaspal Singh, general secretary of AUCT and assistant professor, has alleged the “practice of inaction that the VC’s office has adopted recently regarding the case of an ineligible principal and associate professors in one of its affiliated colleges”. It further stated that the Association has written repeatedly to the VC’s office but no corrective measures have been taken.

The AUCT has raised the case of Doaba College, Jalandhar, where the ineligible principal is under inquiry (for the last 11 months) for not fulfilling the requirements for the post mentioned under the UGC regulations. It also mentioned the reinstatement of three teachers (Dr Manpreet Kaur, Dr Satinder Kaur, Manjinder Sood), who were terminated on July 6, 2021 on illegitimate grounds as alleged by the AUCT, and the Director, Higher Education, Punjab had issued a speaking order to reinstate the teachers.

The letter stated that the college was to carry out the DPI order within two days (by January 13, 2022) while warning the management of the college that non-compliance would invite strict action and ‘unpleasant results’. However, the directions have still not been complied with.

GNDU authorities claimed that the university had already done whatever was required under procedure in the matter. The Doaba college management, however, has filed a petition in the High Court challenging the orders of reinstatement of the terminated teachers.

Meanwhile, Chander Mohan, president, Doaba College, Jalandhar, while speaking over the issue, said all aided college appointments are approved by the DPI, Punjab and GNDU, before being finalised. “The appointing authority is the management of the college, but the approvals are done by the DPI, Punjab and GNDU authorities,” he added.

VC office accused of inaction

In a letter addressed to the Chancellor, GNDU, Jaspal Singh, general secretary of AUCT and assistant professor, has alleged the “practice of inaction that the VC’s office has adopted recently regarding the case of an ineligible principal and associate professors in one of its affiliated colleges”.