Dean to probe into teacher clash

PATIALA, March 29: Even as Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Joginder Singh Puar has assigned the task of conducting an inquiry into ...

PATIALA, March 29: Even as Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Joginder Singh Puar has assigned the task of conducting an inquiry into the clash involving three senior professors on Februay 3, the university authorities have written to the Telecom Department to disconnect a private telephone installed in the office of one of the teachers involved.

Authoritative sources told ENS here today that the university had called an explanation from all the four employees involved in the clash by February 8 including three senior professors 8212; Dr Nirmal Singh Azad, Dr Sucha Singh Gill and Dr Ranjit Singh Ghuman 8212; all from the Department of Economics, and Gajjan Singh, a senior assistant in the department.

One of the teachers had sought extension for submitting his explanation, it is learnt. Now that the explanations from all the four have been received, the university authorities have asked Dean of Academic Affairs Dr B.S. Bhatia to conduct an inquiry into the incident.

Dr Bhatia said that he hoped to complete the inquiry in about a week8217;s time and added that the concerned parties would be given an opportunity to explain their point of view in person.

Meanwhile, in a related development, the university has written to the Telecom Department to disconnect a private telephone installed in the office of Dr Nirmal Singh Azad. The letter was sent on February 9 and the department has asked the said teacher to produce a no-objection certificate from the University.

Interestingly, the telephone was installed in the office about one-and-a-half year ago but the university authorities failed to take any notice of it and now all of a sudden steps have have been initiated to have it disconnected.

Dr Azad, when contacted, said that he had got the telephone installed 8220;for academic work facility8221;. He said that he had requested the registrar to give a no-objection certificate for the continuation of the facility in his office. However, Registrar Dr Ranbir Singh Sarao ruled out grant of no-objection certificate.

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The V-C said that strict disciplinary action would be taken against those found guilty. He described the incident as unfortunate8217;.

It may be recalled that three senior teachers of the Department of Economics were engaged in a clash on the campus on February 3 when they exchanged blows and kicked each other before they were overpowered and disengaged by some students and staff members.