Appointment by PU ex-VC on his last day kicks up a row

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, July 30

Former Panjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover issued an appointment letter to Dr Monika Sharma as a temporary Assistant Professor at the Biotechnology Department on the last working day of his tenure (July 20), but the department has submitted that they did not have much work in the subject of her specialisation.

Prof Grover had issued the appointment letter under Regulation 14 of the PU Calendar Volume-1 on page 36, which states, “Whenever there is urgency, the Vice-Chancellor may take such action as he deems necessary and report the matter at the next meeting of the Syndicate for approval.”

The issue of her appointment has been pending with the Syndicate. Under Regulation 5 of the PU Calendar Volume-1, page 111-112, the Vice-Chancellor shall have the authority to make an emergent temporary appointment for a period not exceeding one year but beyond that, the Syndicate’s approval is required.

Biotechnology Dept against appointment

The meeting of the administrative-cum-academic committee of the Biotechnology Department, which was held on May 8, observed that a majority of the faculty members — Prof Jagtar Singh, Prof Jagdeep Kaur and Dr Kashmir Singh — were of the opinion that Dr Monika Sharma was neither eligible as per the UGC Regulation-2010 nor as per the PU advertisement (9/2012).

According to the minutes of the meeting: “The case has been rejected by the academic committee of the department several times earlier also, but she has been getting extension without any justification to the committee. Granting any further extension to her will not only be a violation of the UGC/PU norms, but will also be an extra financial burden on the university which is easily avoidable.” However, Prof Neena Caplash and Prof Desh Deepak Singh did not agree with the decision and are of the opinion that she may be allowed to continue.

Dr Monika Sharma had applied for an extension on May 31, but again on June 5, Biotechnology Department Chairperson Prof Jagtar Singh reiterated that she was not eligible and extension couldn’t be granted. 

“The orders were issued for a number of teachers — around 120. Everyone was eager to join. For six years, I have been teaching at the Biotechnology Department. Three teachers at the department are against me and are creating hurdles for me. I have research projects, patents and research papers. They are harassing me. Sometimes, they change the timetable just to show that there has been no work for me,” said Dr Monika Sharma. 

Former PU VC Prof Arun Kumar Grover could not be contacted.