Ludhiana, April 20
The issue concerning the appointment of a Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has once again picked up momentum with the Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, reportedly being under pressure from some Punjab politicians to fill the post.
Informed sources in PAU disclosed that the Vice-Chancellor was receiving messages through some bureaucrats favouring a particular person on a regular basis. The matter assumes importance as Dr Aulakh, while taking over as Vice-Chancellor, had categorically ruled out the filling of the post till the Punjab and Haryana High Court disposed of a petition challenging the very existence of the post.
Insiders in the university disclosed that four persons were vying with one another for the post of the Pro-Vice-Chancellor. They included Dr M.S. Bajwa, Director, Research, Dr K.S. Sekhon, Dean Postgraduate Studies, Dr Jaspinder Singh Kollar, Director, Extension Education, and Dr B.S. Dhillon, sitting member of the board of management of the university.
It has been learnt that of all the aspirants, Dr Bajwa seems to be the hot favourite. One of the telephone calls received by the VC was to recommend his name, besides he is also said to be a favourite with the authorities. The only hitch that remains is that he is retiring on August 31 on superannuation and speculations are rife if he would be chosen as the next Pro-Vice-Chancellor or not.
Dr Aulakh, however, maintained that the university would not fill the post till the High Court decided on it. He did not deny that he was facing political pressure to fill the post and said that he would be waiting for the next hearing on May 21. He, however, admitted that lobbying for the post was on but he was adamant that he would be waiting for the verdict of the court.
The campus is again abuzz with the discussions that whether Dr Aulakh would succumb to the political pressure for filling the post or not. Interestingly, the university authorities have also come round to the idea that it would not be proper to fill the post at this juncture. It was agreed that it would become quite embarrassing for the university as well for the incumbent if the High Court decides against the university in the case.
With the latest development the speculations which ended after the last decision of the VC have again come to the fore. It is being openly acknowledged that any person who would be holding the Pro-vc's post would be the favourite to become the next Vice-Chancellor. It is also been argued that the man would be naturally close to the VC and will also have ample chances to mingle with people who matter in the government.
While one pressure group is still opposed to the existence of the post, arguing that it was illegal as university rules had no provision for the post of the Pro-VC but they are looking whether Dr Aulakh goes allout to fill that post again or it was really created to favour him and the university did not actually require a Pro-VC.
Prof Balwant Singh had filed a writ petition in the high court arguing that the post created in November, 1999 was in violation of the university statutes. He had alleged that the former Vice-Chancellor, Dr G.S. Kalkat, had got this post created to felicitate the progress of his relative, Dr Aulakh, who subsequently was elevated to the post of the VC. The university statutes did not include such a post. No one else than Dr Aulakh was appointed Pro-Vice-Chancellor ever since the university came into being in 1962.
The university was also contesting the case strongly. It had argued that the post was created with the approval of the board of management.
