M A I N   N E W S

Mittal’s man is Pro-VC
Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 31
Dr R. N. Pal has been appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, Patiala, for a period of three years. An order to this effect was issued by the Chancellor here today.

Succumbing to the pressure of the BJP, the Punjab Chief Minister, Mr Parkash Singh Badal, had recommended his name for the post.

The BJP high command had forwarded Dr Pal’s name to Mr Badal claiming that at least one Pro-Vice-Chancellor in the state should be from the BJP.

Dr Pal is said to be close to the Minister of Human Resource Development, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, as well as Mr Madan Mohan Mittal, Punjab’s Minister of Food and Supplies.

Dr Pal holds a doctorate in political science from Himachal Pradesh University. He is a Senior Research Professor at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development.

He has vast academic and administrative experience.

Dr Pal arrived at Punjabi University this afternoon to a rousing welcome by teachers, specially of the Teachers United Front (UTF) who have been protesting against Vice-Chancellor Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia. They distributed sweets on the occasion.

According to sources, Dr Pal, who had retired from the Political Science department in November last year, was told to vacate his house on the campus soon after reports started filtering in that he was in the race for being appointed Pro Vice-Chancellor.

Dr Pal said he had met the VC who told him that he would assign him work in a few days.

Dr Pal has had a distinguished academic record. He was Senior Research Professor at the Centre for Research in Rural and Industrial Development, Head of the Department of Political Science in Himachal Pradesh University and Member of the Senate of Punjabi University. He has also authored two critically acclaimed books — “The office of the Prime Minister in India” and “Information on Prime Minister’s Obligation”.