Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) president Sukhbir Singh Badal on Wednesday requested the Vice President M Venkaih Naidu, who is also Panjab University’s Chancellor, to direct its Vice-Chancellor to hold immediate elections to its Senate which were due since three months to ensure that democratic ethos of the premier institution was not destroyed.
SAD chief also requested the Vice-President to direct the Panjab University authorities to scrap purported moves to replace the elected apex governing body with a nominated Board of Governors. “Overt centralization of powers in the hands of the Vice-Chancellor will not be in the interest of various stakeholders, particularly Punjab, whose 200 colleges are affiliated with the varsity,” he said.
Sukhbir said that the Senate elections were being put off in the name of COVID-19 pandemic for two months after they became due on August 15. “Now, however, the elections has been put off indefinitely even as other elections including those to the Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) were held recently. This has lent credence to apprehensions that the University administration wants to scrap the Senate and appoint a nominated Board of Governors,” he said.
“While such a move may suit the authorities, it will harm the larger interests of Punjab. A nominated body will no longer be accountable to the people of the region. It would also not be obliged to further the cause of Punjab and Punjabi studies in the University which elected Senate members have fiercely safeguarded and strengthened,” he said.
Sukhbir said that he had received representations from the student bodies including the Students Organization of India (SOI) urging that the democratic nature of the varsity be preserved at all costs.
SAD chief also informed the President that the varsity was suffering due to lack of governance with the Senate and Syndicate not meeting to discuss important issues.