M A I N   N E W S

Capt fears RSS takeover of PU Senate
T.R. Ramachandran
Tribune News Service

New Delhi, January 6
The Panjab University in Chandigarh is in the throes of a controversy for allegedly packing its Senate with RSS activists.

Dismayed by the announcement of the new members of the Panjab University Senate in the media, state Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh has sought expeditious Central intervention in the matter through Union HRD Minister Arjun Singh.

He regretted that no consultations were held with the Punjab government in such an important matter.

Simultaneously PPCC vice-president M M Singh Cheema, who has been re-elected to the Panjab University Senate for another two-year term, is here to brief Congress president and UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Mr Arjun Singh about the sorry state of affairs in Panjab University.

It is learnt that in a letter to Mr Arjun Singh, Capt Amarinder Singh has expressed surprise that the members of the Senate of Panjab University had been appointed by the Chancellor without holding consultations with the Punjab government.

The Chancellor of the University is Vice President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat.

Capt Amarinder Singh noted that most of the colleges affiliated to the university are located in the state. The Punjab government collects about Rs 30 crore from the students studying in these colleges in the form of tuition and examination fees.

In addition, the Punjab government meets 40 per cent of the revenue deficit of the university. No college located in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh is affiliated to Panjab University and only 15 per cent of the colleges affiliated to the university are located in the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

As the Senate is the apex governing body of the university, Capt Amarinder Singh observed “it is desirable that the views of the state government are taken before nomination of members is finalised.”

The Chief Minister impressed upon Mr Arjun Singh to review the recently made nominations to the Senate of the and giving due representation to the nominees of the Punjab government. “This would foster closer association of the state government with the university and have a positive effect on its functioning,” Capt Amarinder Singh added.

Meanwhile, Mr Cheema, who is a member of the Panjab University finance committee as well, has appealed to the Chancellor (Mr Shekhawat) to review the fresh nominations to the Senate. He expressed shock that the state government had been ignored in the matter.

Mr Cheema said that a wrong perception has developed that the powers and functions of the Chancellor appointed by the the Union Government are synonymous or interchangeable with the office of the Vice President of India. The Chancellor has to discharge his duties in accordance with the directions, instructions and guidelines laid down by the Centre.

In a letter to Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the Principal of one of the women’s colleges affiliated to Panjab University in the state, stressed that the nominees to the Senate have been criticised for their strong RSS-BJP bias.

It is claimed that the action of the Chancellor is illegal and in violation of the University Act and the Rules of Business.