Students object to GNDU dept head’s appointment

Students at Guru Nanak Dev University have raised concerns over the appointment of Head of the Department of Religious Studies by the university management. In a letter to Dr Karamjeet Singh Chahal, Secretary, Syndicate, GNDU, and the Chief Minister, Punjab, the students have claimed that the person appointed has no relevant qualification for the post and objected to the recognition of past service and salary benefits granted to a newly appointed teacher in violation of university regulations.

The letter states that ‘serious irregularities have been observed in a recent faculty appointment and the possible passage of a resolution to extend undue service benefits to the selected candidate”. The students claim that on July 16, 2025, an interview was conducted at the office of the vice-chancellor for a reserved post in the Department of Guru Nanak Studies. Although the advertisement was published on February 25, 2025, the candidates were informed about the interview only on July 11, 2025, with the interview scheduled just four days later, on July 16, 2025.

Tussle at varsity

• The letter states that ‘serious irregularities have been observed in a recent faculty appointment and the possible passage of a resolution to extend undue service benefits to the selected candidate”.
• The new appointee is reportedly insisting on recognition of his past service and salary benefits from his previous university.
• Vice-chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh said, the university has been following the regulations as per its constitution and the state government regulations for faculty appointments for the last 10 years.

Raising doubts over the appointment by Syndicate, the candidate, Sukhdev Singh, who previously served at Jagat Guru Nanak Dev University, Patiala, has been assigned the post of Head, Department of Religious Studies at GNDU, in violation of university rules, the letter states. It also raises the issue that despite receiving the appointment letter, Sukhdev Singh has not joined the department to date. He is reportedly insisting on recognition of his past service and salary benefits from his previous university. The letter states that since this condition is not mentioned in his appointment letter, it is suspected that a special resolution may be moved in the university syndicate to grant him these undue privileges.

Demanding a fair probe into the entire process surrounding the appointment, the students have urged the syndicate to review the appointment.

Meanwhile, university authorities have denied any favouritism in the appointment. Vice-chancellor Prof Karamjeet Singh said, “We have followed government norms laid down for state university appointments and nothing else. No undue benefits have been given to anyone.” He said that the university has been following the regulations as per its constitution and the state government regulations for faculty appointments for the last 10 years. “Nothing new has been done. Syndicate approval was taken for the appointment and the VC has the power to approve appointments based on merit,” said Prof Karamjeet Singh.