A first — Panjab University Syndicate elected unopposed

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, July 2

For the first time in the history of Panjab University, the 15-member Syndicate was elected unanimously. The body includes two members each from the languages, law and medical science faculties, and three members each from the faculties of arts, sciences and combined faculties (dairying, animal husbandry and agriculture, education, business management and commerce, engineering and technology, design and fine arts and pharmaceutical sciences).

Also, it has been for the first time that a total of six women members have been included in the Syndicate. Its term will be from July 2022 to December 2022.

From medical sciences, Prof Sukhbir Kaur (Department of Zoology) and Dr Hemant Batra (Dr Harvansh Singh Judge, Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital) have been chosen; followed by Prof Devinder Singh (Department of Law) and Davesh Moudgil (advocate) from law; Prof Yojna Rawat (University School of Open Learning) and Prof Mukesh Kumar Arora from languages; Prof Rupinder Kaur (Principal, Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Abohar) and Dr Jagtar Singh (SGGS College, Sector 26, Chandigarh) and Dr Jyanti Dutta (HRDC) from arts; Dr Balbir Chand Josan, Prof Savita Gupta (UIET, Panjab University), Dr Surinder Singh Sangha (Principal, Dasmesh Girls’ College of Education, Badal) from sciences; Satya Pal Jain (Additional Solicitor General of India), Prof Prashant Gautam (University Institute of Hospitality and Tourism Management) and Dr Neeru Malik (Dev Samaj College of Education) from combined faculties.

According to the PU calendar, the executive government of the university is the Syndicate, which has powers to consider and make recommendations to the Senate as it deems fit in the matters that include appointment of officers of Class A, affiliation and disaffiliation of colleges, recommendations of the board of finance relating to annual budget, supplementary grants, among others. The one-year term of the last Syndicate ended in December 2020. However, the fresh elections were postponed amid the Covid-19 pandemic.

A landslide victory: Ex-MP

Satya Pal Jain, Additional Solicitor General of India and former Chandigarh BJP MP, termed it a landslide victory. Sources claimed that Jain played a key role in the formation of the Panjab University Senate and now in the Syndicate. Last year, the BJP group had bagged four seats — three from Arts and one from the combined faculties. As many as 11 elected members were from the Navdeep Goyal-Ashok Goyal alliance in the last Syndicate. The alliance was said to be pro-Congress. “This is a very balanced team. It is perhaps for the first time that the Syndicate has six women members and most faculty members are from Panjab University,” said Jain.

Powers

To make recommendations to the Senate as it deems fit in the matters that include appointment of officers of Class A, affiliation & disaffiliation of colleges, recommendations of the board of finance relating to annual budget, supplementary grants, among others.

Panjab varsity panel proposes fee hike

Chandigarh: A Panjab University panel has proposed a fee hike for new admissions in the coming academic session. The panel has suggested a 7.5 per cent increase for self-financed courses, which is yet to be approved by the Senate, scheduled to meet on July 5. The decision was taken at a recent meeting of the committee, headed by the Dean of University Instructions (DUI) and constituted by Vice-Chancellor Raj Kumar. TNS

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