PEC varsity to approach HRD Ministry over nomenclature

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 29

The PEC University of Technology should take up its case of nomenclature with the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry. The decision was taken today at a meeting of the Board of Governors, chaired by educationist-cum-industrialist Som Mittal.

Members mooted a proposal that rather than changing the nomenclature of the institute, they should pursue the case with the HRD Ministry and request them to notify it.

Sources said during the meeting, an issue was tabled that after getting the status of a deemed university, the institute changed its nomenclature to the PEC University of Technology. Due to this status, they were now facing problem in getting grants under various schemes floated by the University Grant Commission (UGC).

The institute was now planning to go back to its old nomenclature which was Punjab Engineering College. The officials of the institutes pointed out some of the instances to the members were they were denied the grant because of confusion in nomenclature or queries were sent by the HRD Ministry or the UGC on it.

The authorities proposed that the institute should have the nomenclature PEC (deemed to be university). But the members rejected the proposal and directed the authorities to pursue their case with the HRD Ministry and after a response from them; further decision will be taken by the BoG.

Records of the PEC University of Technology revealed that in 2008, the institute changed the nomenclature after it got the status of a deemed to be university. Sources said after the change of the nomenclature, the major issue which the officials faced was that when they applied for any UGC grant, they were objected that the institute was not fit for the scheme as the nomenclature of the institute was inappropriate.

The officials said, “Considering this issue, the authorities are planning to change the nomenclature of the institute.”

UT Home Secretary Anurag Aggarwal said, “For the time the issue has been withdrawn but it will be reconsidered after consultation with all the stakeholders.” He said that he was surprised as to why the staff was on protest. “There was no proposal of privatisation for the PEC in future also. This institution will be part of the Chandigarh Administration,” he said.

“Giving relief to the students, the BoG decided that there will be no fee hike in the academic session of 2017-18,” said UT Home Secretary.