Punjabi varsity protest: Prof Gill made Dean, Academics

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, April 3

Punjabi University officiating Vice-Chancellor Ravneet Kaur today appointed Pushpinder Singh Gill, professor at School of Management Studies, as Dean, Academic Affairs.

Professor Gill happens to be the senior-most professor at the university.

The appointment has been made after former Dean, Academic Affairs, Prof Amritpal Kaur had resigned from the post in support of the ongoing protest over the pending promotions.

The VC in a letter today said her office had called Prof Amritpal Kaur a number of times for meeting, but did not receive an appropriate response, as such, her appointment had been cancelled.

The letter further mentioned that Prof Pushpinder Singh Gill had been allocated the additional charge of Dean, Academic Affairs, with immediate effect.

Prof Amritpal Kaur, when contacted, said she had executed all her duties with sincerity. “I had resigned the post for dignity and integrity of the teachers,” she said.

Professor Gill’s appointment received a mixed response from the university faculty.

“Professor Gill’s appointment goes well with the university’s system of appointing one out of five senior-most professors to the post,” said Prof Satnam Singh Sandhu, Department of Distance Education, and a member of the university Syndicate.

PUTA secretary Avneet Pal Singh said, “We have already conveyed the sentiments of the teachers that every appointment made against the mass resignation of teachers will be opposed.”

“We also condemn the VC’s statement about former Dean, Academics, Dr Amritpal Kaur in her letter. Dr Kaur had resigned citing important and valid reasons, but that has not been mentioned in the letter,” he said, adding that “PUTA will discuss options available to it and will proceed with steps against the new appointments.”

Two days ago, the VC had appointed Dr Varinder Kumar Kaushik as Registrar.