Panjab University gets officiating VC, suspends 2 engineers in Jyoti Yadav electrocution case

Confirming the development, Panjab University Director Public Relations Vineet Puniya said that, as per the orders of the Vice-President of India-cum-Chancellor of Panjab University, Prof Meenakshi Goyal would discharge the responsibilities of the Vice-Chancellor till further orders.

Separate office orders issued by the university on Wednesday said Anil Thakur, Executive Engineer-II (additional charge), Works Department, and Lakhwinder Singh Dhanoa, officiating Sub-Divisional Engineer (Electrical), had been placed under suspension with immediate effect.
Their suspension will remain in force until the completion of the ongoing inquiry or investigation, or until further orders, whichever is earlier. During the suspension period, both officials will be entitled to subsistence allowance as per university rules. The orders also stated that the Registrar would hold charge of both posts until further orders.

The administrative changes come a day after the alleged electrocution of a PhD scholar on the university campus triggered widespread protests and demands for accountability from the university administration. The students had sought the resignation of the VC and suspension of the engineering officers.

Jyoti Yadav, a fourth-year PhD scholar in the Department of Microbiology from Rewari in Haryana, died on Tuesday after she was allegedly electrocuted while crossing a waterlogged stretch near Girls’ Hostel No. 8 on the university’s South Campus.

The incident sparked protests outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office, with students accusing the university administration of negligence and seeking action against officials of the engineering wing, a campus-wide infrastructure safety audit, compensation for the victim’s family, suspension of the Chief Security Officer and the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor.

Late on Tuesday evening, the protests intensified as students broke through the gates of the Vice-Chancellor’s office after negotiations with the university authorities failed to break the deadlock. The agitating students and Jyoti’s family refused to accept the university’s initial offer of Rs 16 lakh compensation and a non-teaching job for her brother, demanding enhanced compensation and action against senior university officials.

An FIR has been registered in connection with the student’s death, while police and university authorities are investigating the circumstances leading to the incident. University officials have maintained that the exact cause of death is yet to be established, although students have alleged that she suffered an electric shock while walking through stagnant rainwater on the campus.

The Vice-President’s order appointing Prof Goyal as the officiating head of the university does not cite any reason for the arrangement and follows the scheduled conclusion of Prof Vig’s extended tenure. The suspension of the two engineering officials comes amid the university’s internal inquiry into the circumstances surrounding Jyoti’s death.