Ending the months-old battle with the state government, Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor S S Boparai has decided to quit the post. Five other senior varsity officials — Registrar B S Sandhu, Dean (resource mobilisation) A S Chawla, Director (neighbourhood campuses) S P S Virdi, Director (public relations) Gurmeet Mann and Director (youth welfare) Sunita Dhir — have also put in their papers.Boparai’s resignation follows his interrogation by the Punjab Vigilance Bureau in connection with alleged irregularities in numerous appointments made by him during his tenure as V-C. In keeping with his undertaking to resign with effect from December 1, Boparai submitted his resignation to the varsity chancellor and Punjab Governor, General S F Rodrigues, on Sunday.Confirming his resignation, Boparai said he had no regrets. On being asked if he had been under pressure to quit, he declined to comment. Earlier, Registrar B S Sandhu was arrested by the Vigilance Bureau for reportedly taking a bribe of Rs 1 lakh from the management of a private law and B.Ed. college.Boparai, an appointed of the previous Amarinder Singh-led Congress regime, has been on a collision course with the SAD-BJP government ever since the change of guard in the state. Holding on to the VC’s post, Boparai had accused the state government of interference in the varsity’s functioning.But students, teachers and employees of the varsity have been campaigning for his ouster, organising several dharnas in the campus.
