Social activist flags eligibility criteria for post of Bathinda VC

The matter related to “non-eligible candidates” getting interview calls for the post of Vice-Chancellor of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University (PTU), Bathinda, has reached the office of Governor-cum-Chancellor Gulab Chand Kataria.

A couple of days ago, the Board of Governors of the PTU, Bathinda, had forwarded names of the shortlisted candidates to state government.

It has been learnt that the search-cum-selection committee headed by the Chief Secretary had recommended three names to the Board of Governors. During the meeting, chaired by the Principal Secretary, Technical Education, one of the members raised the issue of non-eligibility of the candidates.

Harmilap Grewal, a social activist, alleged that the search-cum- selection committee failed to check the eligibility of 45 applicants, who were called for the interview.

In his complaint to the Governor, Grewal pointed out that the candidates shortlisted by the search-cum-selection committee lacked 10 years of teaching experience as professors — mandated by the UGC guidelines.

Alleging that the state government was trying to push the names of non-eligible candidates, Grewal said the Governor should seek clarification from the state government in this regard.

He also urged CM Bhagwant Mann to review the eligibility criteria of the shortlisted candidates. It’s the Chief Minister’s office that sends names of the shortlisted candidates to the Governor for final approval.

Earlier this year, CM Mann had given approval for the appointment of regular VCs at Sardar Beant Singh State University, Gurdaspur, and Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University, Ferozepur.

The Department of Technical Education and Industrial Training has been asked to put up the files pertaining to the two universities.

While Dr SK Mishra has been appointed VC of Sardar Beant Singh State University, selection of the VC for the Ferozepur university was still pending.