Prof Rajesh Gill wins PUTA chief’s post

Bhartesh Singh Thakur 

Tribune News Service 

Chandigarh, August 21 

Prof Rajesh Gill won the post of the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) president for the second time. Prof Gill is from the sociology department and a  Panjab University (PU) Senator too. 

She defeated Prof Yog Raj, chairperson of the School of Punjabi Studies, by a margin of 91 votes. 

A total of 631 out of 688 votes were cast. The voting percentage was 91.72 per cent. Last year, the polling percentage was 93.04 per cent. 

Prof Gill got 358 votes while Prof Yog Raj could manage 268. Five votes were declared invalid. Last year, Prof Gill had defeated Associate Prof Jatinder Grover by a margin of 91 votes. 

For vice-president’s post, Mritunjay Kumar, assistant archivist from AC Joshi Library, got 340 votes, while Prof Anil Kumar from the University Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences (UIPS), got 273. The invalid votes were 18. Mritunjay who is from Prof Gill’s team won with 67 votes.

For secretary’s post, Prof JK Goswamy from the University Institute of Engineering and Technology (UIET) got 351 votes, while Prof Amrinder Pal Singh got 262. The invalid votes were 18. Goswamy won with 89 votes. He also belongs to Prof Gill’s team.

Suman Sumi, assistant librarian from AC Joshi Library, won the joint secretary’s post with 305 votes, while Dr JS Sehrawat from the anthropology department got 302. The invalid votes were 24. Sumi who is from Prof Yog Raj’s team won with only 3 votes. 

Amandeep Singh, assistant professor from the Department of Evening Studies, won the post of treasurer. He got 358 votes, while Simran Preet, assistant professor from the biophysics department, got 244. Amandeep Singh won with 114 votes. He is from Prof Gill’s team. 

Prof Yog Raj congratulated Prof Gill after the results. It was Prof Keshav Malhotra, who had put his weight behind Prof Gill’s team, which led to their victory. Her team also won most of the seats in the executive committee. 

‘Others should take up the baton next year’

Whom do you give credit for the victory? 

I give credit to teachers. They have reposed faith in me. The opponents are our friends. It was a friendly match. I am happy that I have become the president for the second time in a row through elections and not by nomination. For the last one year, I have been working hard. 

What will be your priorities? 

We will start working from Day one. A general body meeting will be held today. The executive committee meeting will also happen soon. For us, priorities are to make strategy for getting the Central university status for the PU, approach appropriate authority for the implementation of the 7th pay commission, implementation of promotion policy for dental teachers and pushing for the governance reforms. 

If a teacher is guilty of sexual harassment, what would be the stance of PUTA? 

PUTA has zero tolerance for sexual harassment. Strict action will be taken against the accused. An independent inquiry will be conducted. 

But last year, PUTA’s secretary defended Komal Singh, assistant professor, in Senate? The Panjab University Committee Against Sexual Harassment (PUCASH) had held him guilty of sexual harassment multiple times. 

PUCASH inquiry should be procedurally correct. In Komal Singh’s case, authorities were against him. So, PUTA took a different stand. The inquiry should be flawless and PUTA cannot do anything if inquiry is fair. 

You are 57 years old. Will you contest again for PUTA president next year?

Why should I repeat? Others should take up the baton.