Prof Yog Raj to contest against Prof Rajesh Gill

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 9

Prof Ronki Ram’s group will contest against incumbent Prof Rajesh Gill’s team in the forthcoming Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) elections.

Thursday was the last day to file nomination papers. The election will take place on August 21.

Prof Yog Raj, Chairperson of the Punjabi Department, will contest for the president’s post against Prof Rajesh Gill.

For secretary’s post, Prof Amrinder Pal Singh of University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) will fight against Prof JK Goswamy, from UIET. Prof Goswamy is from Prof Gill’s team and is presently the secretary of PUTA.

For vice-president’s post, Prof Gill’s team is supporting Mritunjay Kumar, assistant archivist, of AC Joshi Library, while Prof Ronki’s group will support Prof Anil Kumar of University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS).

Dr JS Sehrawat of Anthropology Department is contesting for joint secretary’s post. He is from Prof Gill’s team, while Prof Ronki’s group has been fielding Suman Sumi, assistant librarian of AC Joshi Library.

For treasurer’s post, Simran Preet, assistant professor of Biophysics Department, will contest against Amandeep Singh, assistant professor of Department of Evening Studies. Simran Preet is from Prof Ronki’s group, while Amandeep Singh is part of Prof Gill’s team.

Prof Gill is being supported by Prof Keshav Malhotra’s group too. Prof Akshaya Kumar, former PUTA president, said: “My group has not been contesting elections. So, we are not supporting any candidate as a group. The field is open.”

‘Central varsity status for PU top priority’

Prof Gill said: “To get the 7th Pay Commission implemented and Central university status for Panjab University (PU) are our top priorities. We want governance reforms at department level and there should be transparency in university functioning.”

“We will sort out PhD increments issue of assistant professors. We are working to clinch 300 earned leave for teachers instead of 180 days. Those who have joined the PU after 2004 from other institutions should be allowed pension. We will get the dental promotion policy implemented too,” she said.

On the other hand, Prof Yog Raj said: “Our top priority is implementation of the 7th Pay Commission recommendations for teachers. Earlier, whenever Chandigarh college teachers used to get DA or Pay Commission, we used to get at the same time. But for the last three years, the situation has changed. We will fight against it. It was me, who first raised the issue of PhD increments for assistant professors in the Senate. We will get the issue resolved at the PU level.”

When asked to comment about performance of Prof Gill's team in the last one year, he said: “I am not fighting against a person. I am fighting for teachers' cause.”