Punjab hasn’t given any negative opinion: VC

Tribune News Service

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Chandigarh, January 1

Panjab University (PU) Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover today said, “Punjab hasn’t given any negative opinion on Haryana colleges joining the varsity.”

He said states were free to withdraw their colleges from the PU but for affiliation again, they had to approach the central government.

As Haryana has desired that its colleges in Panchkula and Ambala be affiliated to the PU, the Centre has asked Punjab to give its opinion on the issue. Haryana has agreed to give as much financial contribution as Punjab has been giving. “Prof AK Bhandari is in touch with Haryana officials in this regard,” said Prof Grover.

He added that the PU was in Chandigarh which was under the Home Ministry and the varsity was under the Centre’s jurisdiction.

Meanwhile, senators coming from Punjab have been opposing Haryana’s entry in the PU.

There is an uncovered deficit of Rs 17.93 crore relating to previous financial years which has to be met by the Punjab Government as per directive from the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) dated June 19, 2017. Regarding dues from Punjab, he said the Punjab Chief Secretary had told him that when the Seventh Pay Commission would arrive, the state would cover up the deficit. “Punjab has to give Rs 23 crore more from its existing grants for implementing the Seventh Pay Commission,” he added.

‘Government should defreeze recruitment’

The PU has written to the UGC for filling of 70 teaching positions (assistant professors) which got vacated in the past 3-4 years on account of attaining the age of 65 years by teachers, as well as for vacant administrative posts such as Chief of University Security Officer, Dean College Development Council, Deputy Registrars and Medical Officers.

“Our faculty cannot continuously shrink. It will impact our teacher-student ratio and research output as well,” he said, adding that if the university goes down, it could affect the central assistance. “The government should defreeze the recruitment,” he said.

He said they had plan B to implement new courses mentioned in the Institution of Eminence (IoE) proposal if they did not get the status.