PUNJAB UNIVERSITY V-C RESIGNS AMID GRAFT ALLEGATIONS 

Following the serious allegations of corruption in Panjab University (PU), vice-chancellor Prof Raj Kumar resigned from his post almost a year-and a-half before the end of his second term. He was made to resign by the Chancellor after several representations were sent to the Chancellor by senate members and Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA), alleging malpractices in the university. It is learnt that in wake of the seriousness of the issue, Haryana government is also having a close eye on the controversial faces holding the charge of the VC’s in universities. It is evident from the past that controversial institutional chief used to put the prestige of the universities at stake several time in the state. Besides, their working also resulted in the lose of the glory of concerned universities. Besides, the aforesaid issue also continues to remain in discussions in Haryana as the VC’s are yet to be appointed in at least five state universities this year. In wake of Punjab University issue, the Haryana government is most likely to refrain from appointing controversial faces on the chair of VC. Apart from this, the assembly elections will be held in 2024 and keeping view this, the government is believed to maintain a distance from candidates with gray past and controversies. It is a noticeable fact that political contacts also play pivotal and key factor in the appointment of the VC. At present, applications have been sought for the post of VC in two universities in Haryana. The tenure of VC of Maharshi Dayanand University (MDU), Rohtak will end in February this year and there are a lot of strong claimants in fray eyeing on the post. In view of the tough competition, getting the chair of the VC will be an uphill task for the candidates. Besides, the post of VC in Guru Jambheshwar University (GJU) Hisar is lying vacant for around last two years which affected the educational as well as the administrative functioning of the institution. The tenure of Kurukshetra University’s VC will end in October. Being the eminent and prestigious educational institute of the state, the list of the claimants is pretty huge for the chair of VC in the institute. Apart from this, the tenure of VC of Deenbandhu Chhotu Ram University of Science and Technology, Murthal and Chaudhary Devi Lal University (CDLU), Sirsa will end in 2023. Notable, there have been several VC’s in the state who have courted controversies and brought humiliation to the universities during their term. They have been loggerheads with the faculty as well as students over several issues. One of the senior officials said on the anonymity that the officials in educational institutions facing allegations of the corruption are on the radar of the state government. The state vigilance is leaving no stone unturned to tighten the noose around the neck of officials facing the allegations of corruption and involved in irregularities for a long time. The Chief Minister Manohar Lal has also given a clear message to personnel with casual approach and breaching the norms that every possible effort will be made to curb poor working style and especially corruption.