New HPU V-C talks tough on politics by teachers,will propose to ban teachers’ political cells

The V-C also made it amply clear that teachers found discriminating against students on political,religious,caste and regional basis will be dealt with strictly to the extent that they could lose their jobs.

Interacting with the media at his office,Prof Vajpayee said he was quite shocked to know that the university teachers have formed their own political party cells in the campus and remain more active in politics rather than serious academic work.

Prof Vajpayee said: “I will be studying the University Act and related statues to find out if they enjoy such an immunity. If such a provision exists,I am going to make a proposal to the government to change it.”

“ When teachers are getting UGC revised scales,their promotions and non-teaching staff are also drawing all benefits for career and higher scales and students getting degrees,then what’s wrong with the university? It’s something very serious and reflects poorly to its academic culture and working atmosphere,” the VC said.

Prof Vajpayee spoke about preparing a vision document or a master plan for the university to make it a true reservoir of knowledge and the dissemination and extension of this knowledge to the society. The university will also try to become a partner in the policy making process by the government and pursue research projects of national and international standards.

A data bank on Himachal Pradesh will be set-up in the university to help different agencies conduct new studies on different aspects of the state. The idea is to make the university a knowledge capital and provide a linkage to the society.

Prof Vajpayee admitted that the university needs a second campus and if some proposal already exists that it will be taken to a logical conclusion. He did not see upcoming private universities as a threat to the Himachal Pradesh University,which has altogether a different mandate and social responsibility whereas the private universities are mostly driven by their commercial interests.

He said cases of any violence in the university will also be dealt with very strongly to restore proper academic atmosphere.

Prof Vajpayee said the university will also see a massive modernisation process and timely declaration of the results. House journals will be launched and a three-day function will be organised on the university’s foundation day in July 2012.