Nahar, Caplash join back as DSWs

Amarjot Kaur

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Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 3

After the Punjab and Haryana High Court’s interim order and with only two days left for the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections, Emanual Nahar and Neena Caplash took charge of the Dean Students Welfare (DSW) office in the afternoon today. The DSW is also the Returning Officer for the PUCSC elections.

  On August 22, during the Senate meeting, Nahar had courted a controversy when PU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Raj Kumar ruled out the Senate’s majority opinion in favour of retaining Nahar and Caplash as the DSW (men) and DSW (women), respectively. After the VC refused to put the house to vote, against the provisions of the Panjab University Act of 1947, 48 Senators had signed a memorandum asking the VC to give an extension to Nahar and Caplash. Nahar had later filed a case against the university and others.

  “I just exercised my democratic right. A DSW can run a five-year term. Also, I didn’t just go to the court for my extension as the DSW for which I was backed by a majority in the Senate, I went there because the position of Senate, which is the apex governing body of the PU, was under threat,” said Nahar. 

  The VC had later issued a circular stating that Jagat Bhushan, Principal-cum-Professor at Dr HS Judge Institute of Dental Sciences & Hospital, be appointed as the DSW (men) and Professor Nandita Singh, Department of Education, and Dean, International Students, as DSW (women). 

Prof Jagat Bhushan, the officiating DSW, shared: “I am relieved that Nahar’s back and I am happy to go back to academics, where I truly belong. I am glad to have made many friends here though.” 

Senators welcome move

 On the issue, Senator Ashok Goyal said: “The judgement of the High Court is welcome and the stand taken by other Senators has been vindicated. Also, the High Court has mentioned that the Senate is the supreme body, so the issue ought to be clinched by way of majority vote. The action of the VC in negating the PU Act and violations has completely been demolished. I hope better sense will prevail.” 

Fellow and syndic Prof Navdeep Goyal added: “The decision has restored the democratic setup of the PU, which is run by the 91-member Senate, its top governing body, and not the VC alone.”

Know your Joint Secretary

Ajay Nain, 22

Party Hindustan Students' Association (HSA)

Nain says he has been associated with the HSA for the past three years. "We recently submitted a memorandum to the VC regarding connecting the Gate No 3 of the South and North Campus and keeping the gate open at all times."

Key agenda

• Student Centre at South Campus
• Ensuring sanitation at hostel washrooms
• Active placement cells at all departments 

Dheeraj Thakur (23)

Party HIMSU+SOI+PUSU+ISA

“I have been active in student politics for five years now,” says Thakur. “I also contested for the post of vice-president in DAV College-10 in 2016,” he adds. 

Key agenda

• Rickshaw passes for students
• Council at your doorsteps so that students' issues are addressed
• Construction of new hostels for boys and girls

Manpreet Singh Mahal, 22

Party National Students' Union of India (NSUI)

Manpreet Singh says he has been in the university for two years. "All these years, I have been volunteering for youth festivals and have been associated with NGO Junior Chamber International," he adds.

Key agenda

• Implementing e-notice board 
• Establishing mini-student centre in South Campus
• Reduction of cost of SAIF/CIL

KarAmbir Singh, 24

Party Students' Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU)

I am contesting the elections for the first time, says Karambir. "I want to work for the welfare of sportspersons," he says. 

Key agenda

• Sanitation in all washrooms 
• Hostels for sports students 
• More facilities for sportspersons 

Rohit Sharma, 21

Party Himachal Pradesh Students' Union (HPSU)+ABVP+INSO

“HPSU joint secy last year. I organised swachhata abhiyaan, sports tournaments for students,” he says. 

Key agenda

• Heritage status for PU
• Completion of the new auditorium of South Campus 
• Making Boys' Hostel No 9 and completion of Girls' Hostel No 11 

Taniya Bhatti, 24

Party Independent

The only girl among the five boys contesting for the post, Taniya Bhatti is a fresher. "I may be an independent candidate, but I am not alone. I am a dentist and there are about 20 people with me. I am a fresh candidate, but I am aware of students' issues," she says.  

Key agenda

• Women empowerment and security 
• Hostel facility for transgender students
• Speedy revaluation and reappearing procedure 

‘Democracy restored’ 

Earlier, the election scene on the PU campus was quite biased. The warden of Boys Hostel No 6 was allegedly attending one of the ABVP’s meetings and no action was taken against him. With Nahar sir coming back, we are certain that the elections will be fair and unbiased. — Nikhil Narmeta, NSUI presidential candidate 

Nahar’s joining is a testimony to democracy being restored on the campus. The VC’s decision against the Senate was undemocratic. — Priya, SFS Presidential candidate

Nahar sir is back and this is a big win for democracy. This is a soundless slap on the VC’s dictatorship. We are hopeful of a fair and unbiased poll. — Chetan Chaudhry, SOI candidate 

We welcome the High Court’s order. We didn’t oppose the decision of the PU authorities then and we aren’t against the court’s decision now. Students’ organisations should not have a stand on such issues. Their focus should be only the students’ issues. — Paras Rattan, ABVP Presidential candidate

PU for Democracy hails verdict

Members of the PU for Democracy, a united front of THE AFSS, SATH, SFS, ASA, AISA, PSU (Lalkar), HIMSU, ISA, SOI, NSUI, SFI, INSO, PUSU and SOPU formed against PU Vice-Chancellor (VC) Prof Raj Kumar’s decision of appointing new Dean Student Welfare (DSW) (men) and DSW (women), welcomed the court verdict. Members of the PU for Democracy, including Balwinder from PUSU, Aman Ratia from the AISA, Aman form the PSU(Lalkar), Parmveer from the AFSS, Abhikash from the SFI and Gurdeep and Jarnail from the ASA, had protested for two days, locking the main gate to the DSWs’ offices and did not let the new officials take over till August 28.

“It is a win for Senators, organisations and students who opposed the authoritarian decision of the VC,” said PU for Democracy members.