Depts under which students went to Boston do not exist in PU

But there are no departments called ‘University School of Law’ or ‘University Institute of Laws’ in PU. This fact was mentioned by PU in its reply,sources said.

The information has been reportedly passed on to the Boston Police,which might take action against 40 students who went in delegations of these two ‘departments’.

According to the email dated February 22 (Newsline has a copy),Nitin Jindal,one of the accused,was part of the University School of Law delegation. Further,it said 25 students came in the delegation. A senior faculty member of PU said Barinder Dhillon,an outsider,was part of the same delegation.

In PU,Nitin Jindal is registered as a fifth-year student of the University Institute of Legal Studies (UILS). Sources said another case of using fraudulent documents has been registered against Jindal in Boston.

Sources added that of these 25 students,11 were outsiders,who carried forged identity cards and other documents.

Around half of the 40 suspected students have returned; the rest are still in the US.

Harvard blacklists PU

In the email,meanwhile,the Harvard University has said in future,it would not entertain PU students without checking their documents and credentials.

“This incident has taught us that,perhaps,we cannot simply have good faith in the responsibility of universities to select their own delegates and in students to register under the right delegations. Rather,we need to be more vigilant in screening delegations from certain university groups — in this case,Panjab University,” the email signed by April Qian,secretary general of the Harvard National Model United Nations (HNMUN),a students’ organisation,said.

The email was sent to Prof Sangeeta Bhalla,Chairperson of UILS.

A Fellow at PU said,“If students forged documents and names of departments to get student visas,it is a matter of serious concern. What if some of them don’t return at all?”

The matter was discussed in the Syndicate meeting on Saturday.

In his address during the meeting,Vice-Chancellor Prof R C Sobti said those found guilty would be taken to task. He added that an inquiry is being conducted into the matter.

The incident has also brought the US Embassy in India under scanner.

Syndicate decisions

Several other significant decisions were taken in the meeting. Now,students who have passed out would be able to take an improvement exam under a special chance.

The Syndicate also approved the decision of the Chandigarh Administration to open an E-sampark centre in the university. Besides other services,students will be able to pay fees at the centre.

The Syndicate,meanwhile,deferred the decision to start semester system in the colleges.