Capt Amarinder writes to VP Naidu seeking early polls for Panjab University senate
Citing improvement in Covid-19 situation in Punjab, Chief Minister Captain Amarinder Singh has written to Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, who is also the Chancellor of Panjab University, seeking early elections to the University senate, since the inexplicable delay in polling was causing resentment among various constituents of the institution.
In a DO letter to the Chancellor Venkaiah Naidu, the Chief Minister has urged him to advise the Panjab University Administration and the Administration of the Union Territory of Chandigarh for proper and timely conduct of Panjab University elections to the Senate of the University.
Stressing that failure to conduct elections to the University Senate, whose current term ended on October 31, was not only annoying but was also against the cannons of any good governance and the Law, the Chief Minister said “there is a substantial resentment amongst the teachers, professionals, technical members, graduates of the University and representatives of various constituencies for the Senate elections.”
Besides, there are legislators from the Punjab State Legislative Assembly and ex-officio members, such as Chief Minister, Education Minister, and DPI (Colleges) of the State, who represent the Government of Punjab, he pointed out, adding that it was hence strongly felt that elections should have been held without any delay.
Noting that the University Administration and Government of India felt that the situation was not conducive to hold elections due to the pandemic Covid-19, Captain Amarinder said the situation has improved and elections to the Parliament, Legislative Assemblies, and various other urban and rural local bodies have been held across the nation.
“True, there is a need to ensure compliance of the protocol that has been evolved in the last few months to contain the pandemic and there should be no reason for the University Administration and even the Administration of Union Territory of Chandigarh or the State Government not to comply with these,” he added.
The Chief Minister pointed out that ever since the University was set up, its Senate was constituted after every four years, with the members elected through a democratic process. Strangely, the elections to the Senate have not been conducted, though over the last six decades these were held regularly in the months of August - September of relevant year, he said, adding that in a situation when the Senate is not constituted, the Syndicate of the University would also not be constituted as its term ends on December 31, 2020.
-PTC News
