Panjab University to decide on following govt’s reservation policy

Panjab University (PU) Syndicate meet scheduled for May 1 will take up the issue of guidelines for strict implementation of the reservation policy of the government in universities, deemed to be universities, colleges and other grant-in-aid institutions and centres, along with relevant syndicate and senate decisions.

A sub-committee was constituted in a meeting on April 21 by PU vice-chancellor Prof Arun Kumar Grover to suggest ways and means as to how reservation could be implemented in various constituencies of the senate.

After the discussions, it was resolved that two seats for SC and one seat for ST will be allocated in order to give representation in the registered graduates’ constituency among open seats; one seat be allocated to SC candidate in the constituency of heads of affiliated arts colleges; one seat be allocated for SC candidate in the constituency of professors, senior lecturers and lecturers of affiliated arts colleges and one seat in the constituency of various faculties of the universities and list of faculties be prepared alphabetically for the purpose, and it be started in ascending order.

However, PU Fellows Dr Jagwant Singh and Dr Mohammed Khalid had disagreed to the recommendations, requesting that their viewpoints that they would send, should be a part of the proceedings. Dr Khalid said if representation is to be given to SC/ST in the bodies like syndicate executive council, academic council and selection committee, representation in these bodies should also be given to BCs/OBCs and other minority communities. He also suggested that 33% reservation should also be given to women.

Dr Khalid said why reservation/representation should not be given to BC/OBCs? “I plead that if the university is not quantifying reservations, then it should be for all, including minority communities,” added Khalid.

To this dean university instructions (DUI) Prof AK Bhandari said they will go by the reservation policy as depicted in their own calendar - 15% for SC, 5% for ST and 2.5% for BC.

Letter of the University Grants Commission (UGC) written to the registrar on July 18, 2007, read “It is requested to confirm whether your university is implementing the UGC guidelines of strict observation of reservation policy of the government of India for SC/ST in your university. If so, kindly send a certificate to this effect that the university is implementing reservation policy of the government of India for SC/ST as prescribed by the UGC. You are, therefore, requested to send the certificate to the UGC immediately; otherwise the UGC may be constrained to ban the development grant to be paid to the university during the 11 plan.”

Other issues to be discussed

* Synopsis presentation of research scholars, via video conferencing.

* Revised fee structure of LLB 3-year course from 2016-17 session.

* Rates of voters list for the 2016 senate elections.

* Benefit of career advancement scheme to associate professor/joint director and assistant professor/assistant director in the PRCs as per UGC guidelines.

* Amendments/revision in the handbook of hostel rule for 2016-17 session.