‘Faulty’ recruitments: Punjabi University Syndicate member to boycott meeting

Tribune News Service

Patiala, November 15

A Punjabi University syndicate member has decided not to attend the upcoming meeting and university students have started protests on the campus. Reason— the university’s failure to act on probes into ‘faulty’ recruitments carried out years ago. Now, the university will deliberate upon promoting some of the persons appointed under these recruitments in the career advancement scheme (CAS) on November 18. A copy of the agenda of the upcoming meeting is with The Tribune.

The matter of recruiting seven candidates with fake SC, BC certificates and 62 faculty members without the requisite NET qualification were first reported in May-June 2017. They have been probed thrice by different committees. While the cash-strapped university has been paying the accused during the tenure of three-each regular acting Vice-Chancellors.

Syndic Dr Nar Bahadur Verma when contacted said the syndicate meeting lacks critical issues. “The probe matters are not being discussed in the meeting despite submission of reports. The meeting was supposed to be held every month as was decided earlier, but the current meeting is being held after many months. The agenda also becomes very lengthy and tiresome.”

Faculty members requesting anonymity said instead of discussing the probe matters, the university wants to promote the accused employees. “These matters have been probed by internal and external committees thrice. Action should be taken. But now politicians are exerting pressure on the university which in turn is trying to delay action and scuttle the matter under pressure.”

University’s current and former students who launched a protest today also accused the VC of giving a soft corner to the accused employees. Harvinder Singh of the SYFI, who had first reported the matter in 2017 said, “We will sit on indefinite protest outside the VC office if action on basis of probe reports is not taken in the upcoming meeting.”

In his defence, university VC Professor Arvind who joined the university six months ago said, “With passage of so much time, the probe matters have become complicated. Also, at present they are merely accusations. I have already announced that we will ensure action, including termination if applicable, within one year of my arrival to the university.”

On promotions he said, the promotions will remain subject to the outcome of the probe matters.

He pointed out that no political leader had approached him on the matters. “I won’t be influenced by politicians”, he said.