PU student leaders and political parties issued notices over defacement issue

In its defence,the University produced notices,issued to the student leaders,warning them not to put up posters and deface the varsity.

In a recent notice,issued on May 1 of this year by the university,the students were warned that criminal action will be taken against the parties and their members if found involved in defacement of property.

Last week,the High Court had issued show cause contempt notices to the University and Chandigarh Administration asking them to explain why contempt proceedings be not initiated against them for not taking action against those defacing property.

UT Home Secretary,Anil Kumar and Registrar of Panjab University,A K Bhandari were issued contempt notices by Justice Rajesh Bindal last week. Also,the Chandigarh Municipal Corporation and Punjab,Haryana were issued contempt notices. The court had especially taken note of the defacement of property in Panjab University in wake of student elections.

While counsels for Punjab,Haryana and Chandigarh Administration had accepted the notices,senior lawyer Anupam Gupta,appearing for Panjab University,had expressed his “difference of opinion” on the issue.

The development had taken place after the High Court had taken suo motu cognisance of the “violation” of Court orders and the undertakings given by the Administration and University to the court.

On June 4,2012,the High Court had taken suo motu notice of a news item,appearing in a local daily,about the defacement of properties and garbage littered around in the City Beautiful.

Cognisance of the broken condition of sign boards and the throwing of garbage was also taken. After a year-long hearing,the High Court had disposed of the petition on April 1.

The PIL was disposed of only after the court was assured by the Chandigarh Administration,Punjab and Haryana that “appropriate action” will be taken against the offenders.

“However,despite the issue being pending for one year,the position has not improved,” Justice Bindal held. The Bench had further ruled that “even today one finds sign boards,walls and all places in the city defaced with various posters including posters for election of students,political parties and other advertisements. Garbage is also seen in many places of the city”.