Code binds Arjun ministry

THE Arjun Singh-led HRD Ministry is already entangled in legal complications with its recent decision to hurriedly appoint Vice-Chancellors to 15 new central universities being challenged in court. Adding to the complications,it is learnt that Panjab University Vice-Chancellor Prof R C Sobti,who was appointed as the new V-C for the Himachal Pradesh Central University,is not keen to move. He has won a three-year extension at Panjab University,and is said to have chosen to let go of the new offer. The HRD Ministry is now caught in a bind as with the model code of conduct in effect,it cannot make fresh appointments.