Pbi varsity relents, relaxes timings

Tribune News Service
Patiala, October 12

After protests that went on for about four weeks, Punjabi University is likey to function normally from Monday onwards as the varsity has decided to relax entry timings for girls staying in hostels from 8 pm to 9 pm on Friday. 

The university would not charge late entry fee from girls  who enter hostels till 10 pm.  Moreover, buses would be deployed to ferry girls from their hostels to the library and bring them back at 9 pm and 11 pm, respectively.

The university authorities accepted almost all demands of agitating acitivists of the Democratic Students’ Organisation and gave a written confirmation to declare semester exam’s results in a time-bound manner. They would also devise a system to provide examination roll-numbers and hostel forms online.

Officials said that orientation courses would be held to train workers in the administrative block to ensure ease of communication. Proper lights would be installed around the varsity and a lady nurse would be appointed in girl’s hostels within a month.

Manjit Singh Nijjar, Registrar, Punjabi University said, “The university will function normally from Monday. We have addressed all the demands of students and the issues have been resolved.”

Khaira meets protesting girl students 

Former Leader of the Opposition Sukhpal Singh Khaira on Friday met girls who were protesting outside the Vice- Chancellors office. “The university’s administration is here to manage the affairs. They are responsible for all issues, including violence, entry of outsiders on the campus,” he said. 

While exiting the campus, Khaira was briefly stopped by Students’ Association of Punjab (SAP) activists with help of barricades. The activists raised slogans against Khaira and claimed he did not listen to their grievances. Ishtpal Singh, a former student of the university said, “We have been trying to establish contact with Khaira since morning but he did not pay heed to our grievances.”

Khaira left the varsity in a haste. Responding to the actions of SAP leaders he said, “Everyone has a democratic right to protest. But the way they behaved by putting up a barricade was not right.”

Meanwhile, Khaira also met protesting members of the Punjabi University Contractual Teachers’ Association (PUCTA). He said “It is sad that assistant professors who are post-graduate and have done PhD are earning only Rs 21,600.” He added that the administration should look into the matter.