Probe GNDEC admissions, HC tells Principal Secretary

Saurabh Malik

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 18

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has made it clear that Punjab Technical University learnt no lessons from the issues that arose in Combined Entrance Test of 2005. Directing inquiry by Principal Secretary, Technical Education, into the alleged bungling in admissions by Ludhiana-based Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College (GNDEC) in 2010-11 and 2011-12, its Division Bench has asserted that the irregularities may not have arisen, “had appropriate action been taken at that time and the admission process streamlined in the various institutions under PTU.”

Taking up a petition filed in public interest, the Bench asserted that a high-level inquiry was conducted by Principal Secretary, Technical Education, in 2005 into the conduct of CET 2005. A senior functionary was even indicted. The Principal Secretary, Technical Education, even wrote to PTU Vice Chancellor on July 21, 2005, for taking strong disciplinary action against MS Saini (Dean Examinations). “But no action was taken thereon”.

The censure of sorts came on petition filed by Capt Joginder Singh Kular and other petitioners against the state and other respondents through counsel RS Pandher. They were seeking directions to hand over the investigation into bungling in admissions by GNDEC for 2010-11 and 2011-12 to an independent agency, preferably the CBI. Directions were also sought for removal of a respondent from the post of college Principal-cum-Director as he was also “involved in bungling in Combined Entrance Test, 2005.

In its detailed order, the Division Bench of Justice Ashutosh Mohunta and Justice Anupinder Singh Grewal directed the Principal Secretary “to look into the entire matter including the proper conduct of inquiry into the admissions for 2010-11 and 2011-12 and take it to its logical conclusion”. The Bench also directed that the entire exercise should be completed within three months preferably.

The Bench added: “There were several irregularities in admissions in the year 2010-11 and 2011-12 of GNDEC…. Of course, the students would have completed the courses or would be on the verge of completing them and hence we do not want to disturb the admissions already granted.

“Nevertheless, to repose confidence of the public in the institutions of academic excellence and to maintain reasonable standards it is necessary that appropriate action be taken to prevent any irregularities in the admissions in future”.