PU V-C8217;s powers to appoint selection panels withdrawn

CHANDIGARH, Jan 10: In a dramatic move today, the Punjab University Syndicate withdrew the powers delegated to the Vice-Chancellor to app...

CHANDIGARH, Jan 10: In a dramatic move today, the Punjab University Syndicate withdrew the powers delegated to the Vice-Chancellor to appoint selection committees for making appointments to Class A teaching posts even as V-C M.M. Puri, himself recorded dissent on the matter.

Other highlights of today8217;s meeting were approval of the fee hikes and increase in remuneration for exam-related activities, adoption of the University Grants Commission guidelines communicated in its letter dated December 24, 1998 8212; including enhancement of age of retirement from 60 to 62 years 8212; and grant of one chance to compartment candidates.

The power to appoint selection committees, according to the PU Calendar, is vested in the Syndicate. The power, however, was delegated to the Vice-Chancellor in the past, sources point out. The Syndicate today, following a hot debate, has wrested the power from the V-C. However, Syndics A.R. Sidhu, G.K. Chatrath, V.K. Bansal, Dean Public Instructions Colleges Punjab K.S. Gill and Puri expressed disagreement on the withdrawl, sources said.

Several appointments, in the recent past, have been mired in controversy and ended in rejection. The move to withdraw the delegation, sources point out, is likely to put an end to controversies that have accompanied several appointments.

The Syndicate today also constituted various committees for the current year including Joint Consultative Machinery JCM. The JCM, for the first time ever, will include nominees of the C Class employees. The committees include the Regulation Committee, Unfair Means Commitee, Revising Committee, Publications Committee and the Youth Welfare Committee.

In another significant move, the Syndicate passed a resolution, moved by Dr K.S. Chugh, that the minutes of a Syndicate meeting be approved in the next Syndicate meet. This, a Syndic pointed out, was done to prevent the circulation of 8220;convenient editions8221; of minutes of meetings. A.R. Sidhu raised the issue that disagreement with the circulated minutes should be recorded along with reasons.

The issue of confirmation of Sodhi Ram as the Controller of Examinations was deffered following objections raised by S.S. Gill. Gill sought the extension of the former8217;s probation by another year. While rejecting the recommendations of a special committee to grant a third chance to compartment candidates of undergraduate classes, the Syndics, as proposed by Rajinder Bhandari, have decided to grant one chance to all compartment candidates.