Panjab University Syndics skip virtual meet second time in a row

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 15

The online meeting of the Panjab University (PU) Syndicate was cancelled for the second consecutive day as only one Syndic showed up at the meeting.

A group of members have refused to attend any online meeting and insisted that the PU Vice Chancellor (VC) should call a physical meeting of the House.

The agendas of the meeting included issues regarding the conduct of exit class exams and admission to UG/PG courses among others.

The standing committee has recommended to constitute a five-member panel to deal with any kind of issue occurred during online exams. The agenda mentioned that, “The university counsel could not clear the court that three-year law is a PG course in Panjab University. Except Panjab University, in all other universities, admission to five-year integrated course is made on the basis of academic marks. Moreover, according to guidelines of the Bar Council of India, entrance test is not mandatory. It will not be possible for Panjab University to conduct entrance test by following norms laid by the Government of India.” A five-member committee was also recommended to be formed to file a reply in the Punjab and Haryana High Court in the same regard.

However, in absence of any meeting, the process to approve these agendas is likely to be delayed. The Syndics are interested in calling a physical meeting as the PU VC has postponed their elections citing the Covid-19 pandemic. The announcement was opposed by a group of Syndics.

An official said the stakeholders should have come together to approve these important recommendations for the benefit of students. This showed that no one in the university was thinking for the welfare of the students. “The VC is hesitant to call a physical meeting for the reasons best known to him. He should give the House a reason for avoiding to call a physical meeting,” said Ashok Goyal, a fellow.

Covid scare?

Sources claimed that there had been rumours that some of the members of the House and the faculty had tested positive for Covid. However, no official statement or confirmation was provided either by the Syndics’ House or by the Vice-Chancellor’s office.