Syndicate replaces VC-picked Prof Tomar as Dean Research

Bhartesh Singh Thakur
Tribune News Service
Chandigarh, December 8

In a setback to PU Vice Chancellor Prof Raj Kumar, the Syndicate today divested Prof SK Tomar of the post of the Dean Research. Prof Tomar was appointed to the post merely 12 days ago. The second senior-most professor among the PU teachers would now take his place, as was the practice earlier.

The Syndicate is the governing body of the PU.

Both Ashok Goyal and Prof Navdeep Goyal, who are archrivals, toed the same line on most of the issues and put the VC on the back foot. Both are associated with the Congress.

On November 26, the VC had dissolved the Research Promotion Cell and revived the post of the Dean Research. The cell comprised Prof Ramanjit Kaur Johal as its director and Prof Rajat Sandhir associate director. Besides, four more PU teachers were its members. Its tenure was till November next.

During discussions, which continued for nearly three hours, Prof Keshav Malhotra, Ashok Goyal and Prof Navdeep Goyal called for giving importance to seniority. But the VC and city BJP president Sanjay Tandon called for retaining Prof Tomar.

Tandon said the VC had the right to choose his team. Prof Navdeep countered that the PU Calendar and the precedent couldn’t be ignored.

On November 26, Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) president Prof Rajesh Gill had also objected to the seniority being ignored while appointing Prof Tomar as the Dean Research. The same day, she had submitted a memorandum to the VC, stating, “There has been the practice of following seniority for the appointment of the Dean Research and the system proved to be extremely effective and without any controversies.” Prof Gill belongs to the Ashok Goyal group.

“The PUTA’s stand has been vindicated. We are grateful to the VC for accepting our request,” said Prof Malhotra.