Ludhiana, December 4
The repeated calls by the Punjab and the Central Government for a second push to the Green Revolution have had their effect on scientists of Punjab Agricultural
University. The efforts of the present Vice-Chancellor, Dr K.S. Aulakh, to restore normalcy, curb absenteeism and truancy have started bearing fruit.
Even some of the teachers of the university admit that university fraternity needed some pushing up and the Vice-Chancellor had proved equal to the task. When Dr Aulakh took over as Vice-Chancellor in April 2001, the affairs of the university were in a mess. Indiscipline and absenteeism were the rule of the day and the teachers were engaged in private business. They would come to the university, mark themselves present and leave the campus. The same was the case with the non-teaching employees.
As a matter of fact, the PAU campus had been witnessing prolonged agitations by the PAU Teachers Association (PAUTA) and the non-teaching employees for a long time. At one time, PAUTA staged a dharna on the campus for more than a year and the campus also witnessed a land scam in which a former Vice-Chancellor was allegedly involved. The Board of Management had to order an enquiry and the same was done by a senior bureaucrat and then the
Financial Commissioner (Development), Mr R.N. Gupta who indicted the then Vice-Chancellor too. The university authorities took almost four years to clear the then Vice-Chancellor, The same piece of land now has office-cum-residence of a corporate company.
Dr Aulakh took over from Dr G.S. Kalkat who did not complete his four years term and left after three years. Dr Kalkat being a gentleman did not enter into any controversy and left the things for Dr Aulakh to set them in order. Dr Aulakh had to be tough which was not to the liking of the people at the campus but he never dithered and stuck to his plans. His first term of four years has borne fruit and he is now devoting his energy to bring new innovations in the research programmes. Dr Aulakh is in the first year of his second term.
During his first term of four years services of as many as 18 persons, including teachers and personnel from the engineering wing, were terminated. Besides, 98 persons were punished by way of stopping increments and promotions, eight persons had to face reduction in pension and 23 were placed under suspension. Even FIRs were lodged against two persons for the recovery of stock registers and 16 persons were issued censure and warnings.
All these steps have resulted in a healthy atmosphere on the campus. Dr Aulakh has also shown that he is not only a ‘tyrant’. He has shown compassion and granted pardon to a number of teachers and non-teachers who realised their mistakes and gave assurances of working with all sincerity in future and also maintaining discipline. The latest example of his generosity has been provided with the reinstatement of two officials, namely Mr Ramsaran Arora and Mr Satpal Sharma, who had undergone a fast unto death for 12 days and had indulged in mudslinging against the Vice-Chancellor. They had made all types of false allegations against the Vice-Chancellor and involved his family members too. The services of Mr Satpal Sharma were even terminated and his appeal was rejected by the Board of Management. He has been granted pardon following an unconditional apology. The university authorities have treated his suspension period as non-duty period and the intervening period from the date of his termination till the date of his joining after-reinstatement as extra-ordinary leave. The Vice-Chancellor has also pardoned Dr Charan Kamal Singh, veterinary pathologist, who was debarred from taking PhD students for five years for negligence of duty. Dr Charan Kamal Singh has also admitted his fault.
Dr Charan Kamal Singh had allegedly connived with his Ph D student who had gone to Canada without prior permission and had claimed that he would complete his thesis while sitting at home.
Dr Aulakh also took austerity measures on the campus and as a result of which the university had been saving Rs 60 lakh from the electricity bill alone every year now. Besides, for the first time he undertook a review of the departments of all the constituent colleges of the university and cut down superfluous jobs.
While talking to the The Tribune, Dr Aulakh said he had nothing personal against anyone and he was simply keen on restoring the work culture and discipline on the campus. “There was no victimisation of the employees and I just wanted them to realise their duty and most of the people came around”, he said.
For the first time, the university now has its camp office building at Mohali which has been constructed at a cost of Rs 80 lakh. The camp office had been functioning in a rented building so far. The Vice-Chancellor points out that the university is facing some financial constraints and the state had been trying to help it as the Chief Minister was very helpful. Even the Governor and Chancellor, General Rodrigues (Retd) had been taking a lot of interest in the
affairs of the university.
Dr Aulakh is confident that the university is on its way to making further development which will have far reaching impact on the economy of Punjab.
