PU Syndicate to decide on taking scholar’s viva again

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, September 21 

The Panjab University Syndicate on September 23 will take a call on whether to re-conduct PhD viva of research scholar Atinder Pal Kaur as the sociology faculty has written for the same. 

Earlier, the entire faculty had boycotted her viva as they said they had received the notice for it just a day before on July 19. The viva was conducted in the absence of the supervisor on July 20 at the chemical engineering department. 

The faculty said the viva was scheduled for July 27 by them, but the former VC, Prof Arun Kumar Grover, wanted to get it conducted during his term which was ending on July 22. 

Earlier, the student’s case was sent to the Chief Vigilance Officer, Prof Suveera Gill, over an anonymous complaint that someone else had written her thesis. But she got a clean chit after all allegations were found to be false. 

CVO called for conducting her viva

As sociology department faculty boycotted the viva, the Dean of university instructions, Prof Shankarji Jha, was present as the chairman of the department and Prof Pam Rajput as supervisor. A video recording of the viva voce was also conducted. 

Whereas, Prof Kumool Abbi, chairman of the sociology department, is the supervisor of Atinder Pal Kaur. 

“The way the viva voce was conducted was highly scandalous and reflects disproportionate interest in the student on the part of the ex-VC, and the SVC (secretary to VC). The supervisor had in no way expressed her inability to attend the viva. As per the PU calendar, the supervisor has to be present, who in this case had guided the thesis for six years. The faculty of the department was completely ignored,” said the representation of the faculty, signed by Prof Rajesh Gill, Prof Sherry Sabbarwal, Prof Kumool Abbi, Dr Rani Mehta, Dr Moniva Sarkar and Vinod Kumar, dated July 24.

Prof Kiran Preet Kaur of the sociology department was abroad.