Patiala, April 19
The local police today presented a challan against Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia and two others in a local court paying the way for the start of trial in which the Vice-Chancellor is an accused of attempting to rape a student of the Department of Fine Arts of the varsity.
Besides the Vice-Chancellor, there are two other accused — Head of Department of Fine Arts, Dr Saroj Chaman and technical department assistant Jaspal Singh. The two have been booked for conspiracy in the case. All accused are on bail. Before presenting the challan today the police intensively questioned all accused and also managed to procure the police remand of Dr Chaman and Jaspal Singh. The Vice-Chancellor had been questioned by the Inspector-General of Police.
The challan was presented in the court of Mr Sanjeev Berri under Sections 376, 611 (attempt to rape), 354,304,606,176,186,34 and 130 (B). The case will come up for hearing on May 6.
Earlier, a student of the Department of Fine Arts, Saru Rana, had testified to the police that the Vice-Chancellor had tried to rape her when she went to see him with regard to a complaint submitted to him regarding “wrong practises” being adopted during tours of girl students outside the varsity to attend official functions. She had alleged that Dr Ahluwalia had tried to take her in her clutches following which she had pushed him away and fled the office.
Meanwhile, the ongoing tussle between Punjabi University Vice-Chancellor Dr Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia and Pro Vice-Chancellor Dr R.N. Pal today took a new turn with Mr Ahluwalia issuing an order withdrawing the powers of the Pro Vice-Chancellor to oversee the examination and evaluation work of the university.
Mr Ahluwalia, through an order today, has taken upon himself the
responsibility to oversee the complete examination work as well as the evaluation of various examinations held by the varsity. Earlier this charge had been given to Dr Pal.
Sources said the order is the result of intense infighting between the Pro Vice-Chancellor and Controller of
Examinations Paramjit Singh Khaira, who had even accused the former of interfering in the examination process. Dr Pal had on his part written about the alleged insulting behaviour of the Controller of Examinations to the Vice-Chancellor. Both the functionaries also had diverse views about the conduct of examinations which had commenced last week.
The powers of the Pro Vice-Chancellor had apparently been withdrawn as a follow-up of an action taken two days back under which the Vice-Chancellor ordered that reports of flying squads sent by the Pro Vice-Chancellor to check different examination centres would be treated as null and void unless the latter sought retrospective approval from him for sending the squads.
With Dr Pal not taking any permission for the despatch of flying squads, the Vice-Chancellor today issued the order relieving him of his responsibility to oversee the examination work. Following the order, the Controllor of the Examinations will be solely responsible for the conduct and evaluation of the examinations with the Vice-Chancellor overseeing the work only.
Both Dr Ahluwalia and Dr Pal have been at loggerheads for long. When the Vice-Chancellor was missing from the University after registration of criminal cases of attempt to rape and murder against him, Dr Pal had claimed that he did not know the whereabouts of Mr Ahluwalia after he returned to the university he issued a letter to the Dr Pal asking him to submit details of various tours conducted by him since March 1. Dr Ahluwalia had also asked Dr Pal to disclose whether he had taken permission before going on tour. He had also been asked to give details of both casual as well as station leave availed by him during this period and whether he had taken permission for the same.
Sources disclosed that the Dr Pal did not submit the details demanded by Dr Ahluwalia in his letter which had stated that the details be given till April 17. Dr Pal could not be contacted for his views on the snatching away of his powers by Dr Ahluwalia.
Sources said the ground for completely marginalising Dr Pal had been prepared in the past few days and that Dr Pal had provided a handle to his detractors by not attending any of the meetings held recently to discuss the controversy arising over allegations that rampant copying had been done at some of the examination centres which led to today’s orders.
