Login Register
Follow Us

Syndicate to take call on lease deeds, dues

CHANDIGARH: At the impending Syndicate meeting on March 16, Dr Khushpreet Singh Brar’s confirmation as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Library and Information Sciences and Amarjeet Singh Naura as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry will be tabled.

Show comments

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, March 12

At the impending Syndicate meeting on March 16, Dr Khushpreet Singh Brar’s confirmation as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Library and Information Sciences and Amarjeet Singh Naura as an Assistant Professor at the Department of Biochemistry will be tabled.

Brar was appointed as an Assistant Professor — as per the Punjab and Haryana High Court judgment dated December 20, 2017 — on a year’s probation. He had joined on January 22, 2018. His confirmation is subject to the final outcome/decision of the Punjab and Haryana High Court. Under the PU Calendar Regulation, every appointment — whether by direct recruitment or by promotion or by any other method approved by the Senate — shall be made on probation for one year, which may be extended by the appointing authority for a period not exceeding one year. The appointing authority may, however, grant exemption in some cases. In its meeting dated March 20, 2018, the Senate had decided that matters related to confirmation of teachers should be brought before the Syndicate and the criteria for confirmation depended on the age of the faculty.

In the case of Naura, who joined as an Associate Professor in 2016 through direct recruitment, the Senate confirmed him as an Assistant Professor on the Syndicate’s recommendation in 2017. However, in the view of Puja Ahuja’s case, Naura’s confirmation was referred back to the Syndicate.

Ahuja had challenged the university’s decision of not selecting her for the post of Assistant Professor in the Institute of Education Technology and Vocational education in 2011. The High Court had directed the university to keep at least one post of Assistant Editor reserved. Consequently, Ahuja, in 2015, was issued an appointment letter for joining as an Assistant Professor on October 1, 2011.

The Senate, in November 2018, observed that Naura, ought to be given a notional benefit on the basis of the Court decision, but the decision was not produced before Senators. It was further added that the court’s decision was in regard to a different person, so Naura’s case should be withdrawn and placed again with proper background and documents.

The Syndicate will also take a call on the extension in extraordinary leave (without pay) for one year (from March 7, 2019, to March 6, 2020), to be granted to Ajay Guleria, System Administrator, Computer Centre, PU.

Status of rental properties as on March 8

The Syndicate will also consider the status report regarding rental properties under the jurisdiction of Panjab University, along with official comments, and take a decision on the suggestions made in the report.

A report dated March 8 of rent/GST/interest pending against each allottee as on February 28 by officials of Accounts Branch (Rent Recovery Cell) pegs the outstanding amount at more than Rs 11.6 crore. Shops which have the highest pending dues include shop no. 2 with dues worth Rs 1.01 crore and shop no. 41 with dues of Rs 1.14 crore. Some others shops are located in Amritsar.

The report suggests that the auction notice and its conditions and lease deed terms and conditions be duly vetted by Senior Law Officer, PU, and senior advocate (University Counsel). It has also suggested the renewal of new lease deed with those lessees who have already registered their deeds for another five years after the expiry of present term @ 10 per cent increase in the last paid rent and 5 per cent per annum increase of the remaining four years, in accordance with the extension clause no. 19 in the new lease agreement for shops/booths having registered lease deeds.

The report recommends registration of all old lease deeds of shops/booths (which were not registered) with the appropriate government department for the remaining period (June 30 and December 31) immediately. “Once the lease period of five years is over, then the lease deed be allowed to be extended for another five years with 10 per cent increase in last paid rent at the time of renewal of lease deed and 5 per cent p.a. increase for remaining four years,” the report states.

It has also been suggested that if shopkeepers fail to clear the arrears of rent, the eviction orders be passed after following the due legal process. Also, it has been advised that the Vice-Chancellor constitutes a committee to resolve and take decision in respect of the anomalies in the charging of rent of the shops/booths, as requested by the lessees for waiving the penal interest.

Fazilka college case

The Syndicate will also consider the issue of granting co-education status to National College for Girls, Chowarianwali, Fazilka. The issue was also discussed in the Syndicate meeting in December, 2018, where the Deputy Registrar (Colleges) was asked to explain as to how the meetings of the Affiliation Committee were convened on October 1 and October 5 last year without issuing any notice and how the minutes of the meetings were confirmed from a person who was not even present. The Syndicate has solicited comments from other officers concerned.

In the letter dated February 12, 2019, Deputy Registrar (Colleges) explained that the meetings on October 1, 3 and 5 were in continuation with the meeting on September 29, 2018, and that “Senator Raj Kumar Mahajan came to my office with Dr Inderpal Singh Sidhu and Amit Joshi and said the meeting pertaining to the case of affiliation to National Degree College be held on October 5 as the annual examination of students will not be held in the absence of such a decision (affiliation).” The Syndicate will also discuss an inquiry report by five Senators.

Show comments
Show comments

Top News

Most Read In 24 Hours