Ludhiana, January 30
With the refusal of the DPI (Colleges) to be a part of the selection panel for any appointment in government-aided colleges till mid-March, five Ludhiana colleges are likely to continue without regular principals for the next two months.
While three colleges had even advertised for the posts of principal this month, their selection has been delayed due to forthcoming Assembly elections in the state. The DPI or his nominee has been debarred from giving fresh appointments in government or aided colleges till the Model Code of Conduct would be valid.
The colleges which are being administered by officiating principals are the Khalsa College for Women, Gujranwala Guru Nanak Khalsa College, Arya College, Guru Nanak Girls College and Govind National College, Narangwal village. College staff as well as students have been complaining of problems related to academic atmosphere on the campus. Maintenance of discipline is another problem in such colleges as the staff and students ignore instructions of any officiating principal, who they know cannot continue for long. Even the officiating principal does not take much administrative burden on himself.
While the posts of principal at two Khalsa colleges have been lying vacant for the past three months, the college managements have been dilly-dallying new appointments during the period.
Principal Harrinder Dhillon of the Khalsa College for Women was retired in October, Principal Kuldip Singh of GGN Khalsa College had continued in the office for another month despite his retirement in October.
The teachers’ union had demanded that his extension be cancelled and instead Prof Gurdip Singh, the senior-most teacher, be given appointment. Prof Gurdip Singh was then given appointment in November and has been continuing on the post since then.
At Arya College, Mr V.K. Mehta, Principal, had gone on medical leave soon after he was chargesheeted by college management on September 10, 2001. While earlier he had taken two months’ leave on account of ill-health, he had extended his leave till December and later by another month. ‘‘I will join next month’’, said Mr Mehta. ‘‘I can continue just for one month as my retirement is due on February 28,’’ he further added.
At Guru Nanak Girls College, Ms Jasbir Minhas has been on medical leave for the past two years. Five officiating principals have taken over since then and now Ms Charanjit Mahal has been continuing for the past six months. While college sources said the retirement of Ms Minhas was due in next two months, the feud within the management was likely to further postpone any fresh appointment till the matter was solved by the court.
While the DPI (Colleges) was not available for comments, Ms Geeta, Education Secretary, confirmed that no fresh appointments would be possible till mid-March. She said once elections were over and the code of conduct become inapplicable, the DPI or her nominee would be sent in selection panel for the appointment of principals.
