House repeals Khalsa varsity Act; students, staff in a spot

Tribune Reporters

chandigarh/Amritsar, June 23

The Vidhan Sabha today repealed the Khalsa University Act 2016, scrapping the university to “protect the heritage and character of Amritsar’s historic Khalsa College”. The fate of about 300 university students and over 100 members of the teaching and non-teaching staff now hangs in the balance.

Higher Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary moved the repeal Bill.

During the discussion on the Bill, Congress MLA Sukhbinder Singh Sukh Sarkaria said the university management had become the fiefdom of a prominent Akali leader’s family. He said the family had set up the university for vested interests.

The Khalsa College Governing Council (KCGC) has already filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The next date of hearing is July 10.

KCGC honorary secretary and university Pro Chancellor Rajinder Mohan Singh Chhina said, “Once we receive a copy of the repealed Act, we will take our legal fight ahead. Every norm was followed while setting up the university. We will make all efforts to save it.”

The then SAD-BJP government had established Khalsa University vide the Khalsa University Act. A notification was issued in August 2016.

After the change of guard, the Capt Amarinder Singh government initiated a move to scrap the Act in April to “protect the glorious legacy of the 125-year-old Khalsa College.”

The Khalsa University (Repeal) Ordinance, 2017, came into force on June 1. The promulgation order was issued by the Governor under Clause (1) of Article 213 of the Constitution.

The CM has already assured that the students would be absorbed in other institutions as per eligibility, even as a majority of the courses offered by the university — including medical lab technology and civil aviation — are available in very few institutes of Punjab.

Of the 300-odd students, only 25-30 can be shifted to Guru Nanak Dev University or other institutes.

Around 100 PhD scholars in 18 disciplines are also a worried lot. Two of them, Harpreet Singh and Sheffali, said: “We have done pre-PhD course study and are about to work on the research synopsis under our guides. If we are shifted to another institute at this stage, our research would be hampered.”

MSc (medical lab technology) students Pardeep Singh and Mandeep Kaur appealed to the CM and the KCGC not to put their future at stake in this “political” battle.

Meanwhile, the Assembly passed Maharaja Ranjit Singh Technical University Amendment Bill to allow the appointment of the chairperson of the university’s Board of Governors.

Legal tussle 

• The fate of about 300 students and over 100 members of the teaching and non-teaching staff hangs in the balance 
• The Khalsa College Governing Council has already filed a case in the Punjab and Haryana High Court. The next date of hearing is July 10
• The CM has already assured that the students would be absorbed in other institutions as per eligibility