Year on, PTU awaits chairman

Deepkamal Kaur

Tribune News Service

Jalandhar, July 18

Even as the term of Board of Governors of IK Gujral Punjab Technical University got completed on May 19 last year, there has been no headway by the state government in making fresh appointments to the supreme decision-making body.

While ex-Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal was the last regular chairman, the powers of the post had been vested with the vice-chairman, who is Principal Secretary of the Technical Education Department.

In June 2017, the Act of the IKGPTU had been amended such that the new chairman will be a person of eminence from industry, technology or technical education who will be appointed by the Chancellor out of a panel prepared through a screening process on the advice of the state government. But no chairman had been appointed ever since.

Various decisions in the IKGPTU are pending because of this. The last board meeting was held on March 16, which was presided over by then officiating chairman and then Principal Secretary, Technical Education, MP Singh.

A senior official of the university said, “This is admission time and we require various approvals which can come via the BOG only such as sanction of new posts for faculty at the campus. The admissions were held for the first time to UG courses last year. Now we have second batch of students and the strength has almost doubled. Accordingly, we need more staff. Various financial matters also require approval from the BOG.”

Secretary, Technical Education, Dhirendra Kumar Tiwari said, “I was away for a training programme and got back recently. I need to look into this matter”.

Last board meet held on March 16 

• While ex-Punjab Chief Secretary Sarvesh Kaushal was the last regular chairman, the powers of the post had been vested with the vice-chairman, who is Principal Secretary of the Technical Education Department. 
• Various decisions in the IKGPTU are pending because of this. The last board meeting was held on March 16, which was presided over by then officiating chairman and then Principal Secretary, Technical Education, MP Singh.