Dr Manjit Singh Kang, vice-chancellor, Punjab Agricultural University,as per the office-bearers of the PAU Non-teaching employees have assured them he would change his secretary very soon.The development marks a departure from the stand taken by the V-C Dr Kang earlier. Throwing his lot behind the new SVC a few days ago, he had remarked that choosing a SVC was his prerogative and that he wanted to have such a person in the post who could share and work towards achieving his vision for PAU.Notable here is that the recent decision of Dr Kang to appoint Dr P.P.S. Lubana as his SVC had the non-teaching employees up in arms for they claimed that this post belonged to the non-teaching cadre and that in case, Dr Kang did not revert his decision, the union wouls launch a protest rally. The union leaders held a meeting with Dr Kang today morning.Giving details of the meeting, Lakhwinder Singh Sandhu, vice-president of the union, said, “Dr Kang’s approach towards us was very positive. He has assured us that Dr Lubana’s appointment is a stop-gap arrangement and that he would chose a suitable person from the non-teaching segment and renew this appointment.” Sandhu said, “Dr Kang told us that his SVC was transferred to GADVASU and that he did not want to keep the seat vacant for long as that would have had negative impact on the work. Thus he filled up this post by appointing Dr Lubana, but very soon a person from non-teaching staff will be chosen for this post.”Sandhu added, “The Dean, Post-graduate Studies, Dr S.K. Mann played a very positive role in the meeting and she pleaded the case on our behalf.” “While Dr Kang has not given us any time frame, yet we expect the change to take place within the next 15 days,” said Sandhu.While Dr Kang was not available from comment, Dr P.P.S. Lubana, the man in the eye of the storm, refused to comment on the issue. Notable here is that last week, PAU Non teaching employees had held a protest rally when this issue dominated the rally. The union had announced that they would not rest till the time the post is given back to them. In reply Dr Kang had remarked that choosing a SVC was well within his prerogative.
