Senate to lose powers if reforms implemented

Bhartesh Singh Thakur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 12

The governance reforms committee has given its recommendations for conducting business in governing bodies of Panjab University (PU), which if implemented, will deprive the Senate of its powers.

The matters on which the "Syndicate has reached a consensus without a vote shall be deemed to be approved by the Senate without discussion", unless a request for discussion from any Senator is received by the Registrar in writing at least seven days before the Senate meeting.

Only those items of the agenda shall be taken up for discussion about which a written communication is received by the Registrar from any member at least two working days before the meeting. All other items shall be deemed to have been approved.

However, any item of the agenda of the Senate, which has been approved by the Syndicate, can be taken up for discussion at the discretion of the Vice-Chancellor.

It has been recommended that only "if 10 per cent members demand a poll by secret ballot, then the same will be taken up by the Chairperson" who is VC. Presently, a single member could demand polling though VC decided the mode.

Syndicate vs Senate

It is the Syndicate which will decide about the affiliation and disaffiliation of colleges; grant of degrees, prizes, and rewards for the encouragement of literature; fee for entrance into the university and for attendance at any lectures or classes in connection with the university. The decision would be conveyed to the Senate only as information.

However, the Syndicate would make recommendation to the Senate in the case of appointment of Class A officers; creation of the posts of teachers and fixation of their salaries and recommendations of the Board of Finance.

Selection of Deans

The tenure of the deans has been proposed to be two years. For choosing them, applications will be invited from 10 senior-most professors of the PU in that faculty. A committee consisting Vice-Chancellor, Dean of University Instructions (DUI) and three senior-most professors of the university will select a dean from among the applicants.

Faculties

• Instead of 11 faculties, just six are recommended — language, literature and performing arts; social sciences; sciences; laws, business management and commerce, medical sciences and engineering & technology. If the faculty of architecture and planning is approved, it would be a part of engineering and technology. 
• Fellows shall be assigned to no more than two faculties as per the order of their preference. At present, a fellow could take four faculties. 
• The added members will not have any voting rights. 

Composition of Board of Finance 

The Board of Finance, which takes financial decisions for the PU, will have more representation from the university teachers. The president of PUTA is recommended to be a member. Also, two members from the Syndicate and two from the Senate, who used to be part of the BoF, are recommended to be among the PU teachers.    

Quorum of Senate 

The quorum for a meeting of the Senate shall be 1/3rd of the current strength. If the quorum is not complete within half an hour of the time fixed for the meeting, the meeting shall not take place and the Registrar shall record that fact. However, when the Senate meets for the convocation, no quorum shall be required. Presently, the quorum comprises 15 members.