Status quo over affiliation of institutes

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, May 20

Even as there have been reports of all technical, management and architecture colleges being shifted back from Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (MRSPTU), Bathinda, to IK Gujral Punjab Technical University (IKG-PTU) at Kapurthala, the status of the two varsities remains unchanged in the recent admission notification issued by the Department of Technical Education for the coming session.

The notification, wherein the Punjab Governor authorises the IKG-PTU to conduct online, centralised counselling, reads, “Admission will be made in the colleges affiliated to the IKG-PTU, the MRSPTU and Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana (third varsity for BTech only)”.

The notification has triggered a fresh controversy ahead of admission season as students vying for counselling in 11 districts falling under MRSPTU will be enrolled in the Bathinda varsity only.

MRSPTU Vice-Chancellor Mohan Paul Singh Isher maintains, “We have so far not received any proposal regarding shifting of colleges from our university and confining us to training and research only. Even Technical Education Minister Charanjit Channi had given a statement clarifying the issue. The fresh notification is an endorsement by the Punjab Governor-cum-Chancellor of the varsities on the maintenance of the current status of the two technical varsities.”

Officials, however, are not clearing the air on the status of the two universities.

“Unless an Act changing the present situation is passed, the present provision prevails. At present, this is the position. I cannot foresee or comment about future,” said MP Singh, Principal Secretary, Technical Education.

As the IKG-PTU today even announced the counselling schedule from June 1 for various courses on its website, Secretary Technical Education-cum-Vice Chancellor of IKGPTU Kahan Singh Pannu said, “We have gone by the position that prevails today,” hinting that a change could come later.

Meanwhile, NP Singh, coordinator of admissions at IKG-PTU, said all centralised BTech admissions would be over by June 23. Subsequently, private colleges will be allowed to fill vacant seats.