Governance reforms: Ball now in university Chancellor’s court?

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, January 14

Panjab University (PU) is headed towards another political storm after one of the joint secretaries of the Ministry of Higher Education (MHE) wrote to the Joint Secretary, Vice-President’s Secretariat, suggesting that the university should take some action on Senate elections.

Meanwhile, the Secretariat has asked the PU Vice-Chancellor to send a proposal on the same for briefing the Vice-President, who is also the Chancellor of the university.

In a letter dated December 29, 2020, the MHE joint secretary has written to Ashok Dewan, Joint Secretary, Vice-President’s office, suggesting further course of action for conducting elections vis-a-vis granting extension to the previous Senate/Syndicate.

The letter states: “Kindly refer to your DO letter dated December 11 forwarded therewith letter dated November 9 of the PU Registrar regarding the implementation of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 recommendations in the university. In response to the PU Registrar’s letter, the UGC has requested the university to initiate an action for governance reforms in the light of the NEP 2020 as per the Panjab University Act and Regulations.”

It further added: “It is stated that the PU is governed as per the provisions of the PU Act, 1947. In view of the above, the matter may kindly be taken up with the PU to decide further course of action for conducting elections vis-a-vis granting extension to the Senate/Syndicate.”

Dewan’s letter to PU VC

Meanwhile, in another letter, addressed to the PU Vice-Chancellor, Prof Raj Kumar, on December 31, Dewan asked the university to submit a proposal before placing the issue of Senate elections before the Vice-President of India. Sources claim that a plan has already been submitted by the competent authority.

However, Vikram Nayyar, Registrar, PU, did not respond to repeated calls to confirm any development.