Panjab University clears the air on governance reforms

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 15

The Panjab University authorities have finally broke their silence on the reforms in the governing body.

The university today issued a clarification to dispel the “factually incorrect” claims being made through discussions at different platforms.

On the allegation that the stake of Punjab was being diluted, the PU said: “In the present PU Act, Punjab is represented in the Senate/Syndicate through various ex-officio positions of the state government. In the report, all these ex-officio positions of Punjab have been kept intact, and therefore, there is no dilution so far as the participation of the state (is concerned).”

On the claims that the territorial jurisdiction of the university was being restricted to Mohali and Roopnagar only, the PU said: “The committee has recommended the realignment of the territorial jurisdiction of the PU in such a way so that the colleges falling in the immediate vicinity of campus can be affiliated to it.”

“This recommendation has been made only for the convenience and benefits of the students and research scholars studying/working in the colleges situated in Mohali and Roopnagar,” said the university.

“Similarly, the students in the colleges, which are situated at far off places (more than 200 to 250 km away) may get better services from a university located in their proximity. This recommendation is not at all restricting or de-affiliating colleges situated in Ludhiana, Khanna, Moga, Balachaur, Nawanshahr, Hoshiarpur and others,” it added.

The university authorities also negated the claims that the Vice-Chancellor had been given the power to nominate members of the Senate and Syndicate.

“In the proposed structure of the Senate and the Syndicate, the power to nominate members of the Senate vests with the Chancellor. However, the committee has unanimously recommended curtailing the number of nominated members to 18 from the present 36, so as to have a lean and efficient governance structure,” the PU stated.

“The committee has recommended the existing structure, with all three components, as such but only downsizing for enhancing efficiency. Downsizing has been recommended without compromising the democratic spirit of the functioning of the PU as the proposed Senate and Syndicate also have representation of elected principals and teachers of affiliated colleges of Punjab as well as Chandigarh, besides elected representatives of teachers from PU campus,” it added.

Regarding ‘registered graduates constituency’, the university said: “It may be relevant to mention that in none of the universities of Punjab, the ‘registered graduates constituency’ exists.”

“The election process of this constituency is a very complex and cost intensive exercise for any educational institution. In PU, it involves more than 3.5 lakh voters spread over five states and two union territories,” read the PU statement.

“The concept of having ‘registered graduates constituency’ was relevant only till 1960s when the PU was conducting matriculation and intermediate examinations. Hence, it was recommended to have ‘eminent alumni’ of the PU on the governing bodies of PU instead of ‘registered graduates constituency,” it added.

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