Government set to appoint regular VC at tech varsity in Bathinda

The state government has set the ball rolling for appointment of a Vice-Chancellor (VC) at Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (PTU), Bathinda.

The Board of Governors, headed by the Principal Secretary, Technical Education Department, today constituted a search-cum-selection committee that would shortlist the candidates for the post of the VC.

“As the government has not been able to appoint chairman of the Board of Governors, the department’s Principal Secretary-cum-Vice Chairman heads the Board,” said a government functionary.

Sources said the Chief Secretary would head the search-cum-selection committee, besides a nominee of the University Grants Commission and other members. At present, the university has an officiating VC.

Recently, Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann gave approval to the appointment of regular Vice- Chancellors at Sardar Beant Singh State University in Gurdaspur and Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University in Ferozepur. The Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training has been asked to put up the files pertaining to the two universities.

Of the four technical universities —IK Gujral Punjab Technical University (PTU), Kapurthala, Maharaja Ranjit Singh PTU, Bathinda, Sardar Beant Singh State University, Gurdaspur, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University, Ferozepur — the ones at Bathinda, Gurdaspur and Ferozepur have officiating VCs.

Besides, the additional charge of Maharaja Ranjit Singh PTU, Bathinda, was given to Dr Sandeep Kansal, Dean, Faculty of Sciences, after the matter of non-appointment of the VC reached the high court.