PU board wants exam dates, rules fixed

Amarjot Kaur 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, December 1

Amidst the searing ambiguity of the Syndicate over granting approval to Panjab University (PU) for starting courses in Vedic Astrology, the PU’s Undergraduate Board of Studies (UGBOS) in Sanskrit  has now sought the Syndicate’s nod for ratifying the regulations and fixing exam dates in four of its courses for the current session. The matter will be taken up for discussion during the upcoming Syndicate meeting.  

Reportedly, the PU continues to run vedic astrology courses in the Department of Sanskrit even when the department was instructed to put the courses on hold as it lacks the requisite permission from the Syndicate.

The recent agenda of the Syndicate lists four courses in vedic astrology, namely Jyotish Bhaskar or Certificate Course in Vedic Astrology, Jyotish Ratna or Diploma Course in Vedic Astrology, Jyotish Daivajna or Advanced Diploma in Vedic Astrology) and Ayur-Daivajna or Specialised Diploma in Medical Astrology. 

The courses have been designed by the Institute of Vedic and Astrological Sciences and are in accordance with an MoU signed on May 24 between PU, through the Department of Sanskrit, and the Institute, 1110, Sunny Enclave, Sector 123, SAS Nagar, Mohali, through its authorised signatory Sudhir Batish (honorary director).

Ever since, the MoU was tabled in the Syndicate meeting on April 10, the courses offered, fee structure and other such details of the pact between the PU and the private astrology institute remain riddled with confusion. Nevertheless, a news ticker flashing on the website of the Institute of Vedic and Astrological Sciences aka Jyotish Gurukul, reads: “In Collaboration with the Sanskrit Department, Panjab University, certificate/diploma/advance diploma courses in Vedic Astrology and specialised course in Medical Astrology are being started. Classes will be held at Sanskrit Department, Panjab University, from July 13. Sic.”

In its meeting held on June 14, the Undergraduate Board of Studies in Sanskrit considered and recommended the guidelines, rules/regulations, outline of tests, syllabi and courses of reading of the four courses offered in Vedic Astrology. The Dean, Faculty of Languages, had approved the syllabi of the courses, along with guidelines and rules/regulations, for the session 2019-20 as per the authorisation given by the Faculty of Languages dated March 30. The agenda reads: “The Vice-Chancellor, as per the authorisation given by the Academic Council dated May 25, had approved the guidelines, rules/regulations, outline of tests, syllabi and courses of reading of the said courses for the session 2019-20 on behalf of the Academic Council and also guidelines in anticipation of approval of the Syndicate/Senate.”

The agenda states that the relevant quarters were informed about the decision of the various authorities/bodies and the file was sent to the Syndicate section to get the decision ratified from the body. 

Proposed exam schedule for astrology courses 

The notice further states that while the Jyotish Bhaskar or Certificate Course in Vedic Astrology and Jyotish Ratna or Diploma Course in Vedic Astrology are of one year (comprising two semesters), Jyotish Daivajna or Advanced Diploma in Vedic Astrology and Ayur-Daivajna or Specialised Diploma in Medical Astrology are of one year (annual) and one semester (6 months), respectively. The Chairperson of the Department of Sanskrit was requested on September 4 to intimate if the regulations of the semester system can be applicable for the annual system and the regulations proposed are that exams for Jyotish Bhaskar and Jyotish Ratna be held bi-annually in December and June, “as may be fixed by the Syndicate”.  It was also suggested that the exam for Jyotish Daivajna be held on completion of one year in June, while the exam for Ayur-Daivajna be held on completion of one semester (6 months) in December and June, on the basis of Syndicate’s approval.