Internal politicking ‘tarnishing’ varsity image,PUTA to act as peacemaker,resolve issues

Sources told Chandigarh Newsline that in a majority of departments,the chairpersons failed to get the matters resolved through different committees – academic,administrative and technical committees – formed under the provisions of the PU calender.

Recent incidents include verbal altercations between University Business School (UBS) chairperson A K Vashisht and one of the faculty members,Neha Gulati,and the resignation submitted by law department chairperson Prof Nishtha Jaswalt,though the vice-chancellor did not accept her resignation.

Moreover,problems regarding rational headship in the departments like University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS),University Institute of Engineering and Technology,Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospitals is another reasons where the faculty stands divided.

Punjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) had,recently,written two letters to the V-C after it received representation from UILS faculty seeking rotation of headship. However,a committee was formed to re-look into the rotational headship issue,but failed to reach a conclusion.

PUTA president Mohammad Khalid said,“I know that in many departments there are problems among teachers. Volume 3 of the PU calender clearly defines the powers and functions of the departments. If teachers follow the calender and stop operating by their own whims and fancies,then such things will not take place. Such incidents bring a bad name to the university”.

In order to resolve the issues,PUTA has decided to soon call a meeting of its executive body to discuss the problems leading to departmental fights.

Vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover stressed that the departments,rather than inclining towards Senators and Syndicates,must work with alumni for the growth of the students.