8 universities without VCs: Aujla

Claiming that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann-led AAP government was playing havoc with higher education in Punjab, MP Gurjeet Singh Aujla said eight universities of the state were already working without Vice Chancellors (VCs).

Addressing mediapersons here on Sunday, he said six universities of Punjab were already working without VCs and now two more prestigious universities had joined the row.

He demanded that the government should appoint VCs of these eight universities as soon as possible. Giving information through a press briefing, Aujla said prestigious institutions of higher education in Punjab, including Punjabi University, Patiala, Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University, Bathinda, Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University, Ferozepur, Sardar Beant Singh State University, Gurdaspur, Guru Ravidas Ayurved University, Hoshiarpur, and Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University, Patiala, had been functioning without regular VCs from three months to four years.

Now, two other prestigious universities of the state, Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, and Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law, Tarn Taran, were also functioning without VCs, he said. Aujla said the extended tenure of the current Guru Nanak Dev University VC Dr Jaspal Singh ended on November 16. Similar was the situation in Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law.

The MP said the Chancellor’s Office (Governor of Punjab) did not issue any order to give the charge of both universities to the Secretary, Higher Education. He said since April 25, 2024, the charge of Punjabi University VC was held by KK Yadav (IAS), Principal Secretary, Higher Education. The extended tenure of Executive VC KK Yadav would end on November 25, he said.

Aujla said senior faculty member Dr Sandeep Kansal was holding the Executive VC charge of Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University. The Amritsar MP said the post of VC was important for every university. — TNS