Can’t run PU sans funds, VC tells Javadekar

Aarti Kapur

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, September 23

“I will not be able to run Panjab University (PU) if funds are not released on time by the Human Resource Development (HRD) Ministry this year,” Vice-Chancellor Arun Kumar Grover told HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar, who was in Mohali for a review meeting with the five directors of the Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research today.

During a brief meeting with the minister, the VC submitted a 74-page document carrying a detailed report about the financial status of the university during 134 years of its existence.

It has been mentioned in the report that the university was set up in 1882 and from 1938 to 1966, the financial requirements of the campus were met by the Punjab Government while during the remaining period, the Centre funded the university.

The VC asked the minister that since the finances of all government colleges, the PEC University of Technology and the PGI faculty were borne by the Centre, why was the PU not getting its share of funds.

He said with the implementation of the Seventh Pay Commission, the financial burden of the university would increase for which the HRD Ministry should support it.

The VC said the HRD Minister did not comment on the issue but took the document.

Yesterday, the VC had given a presentation regarding this document to officials of the HRD Ministry in New Delhi.

Next week, the VC will make another presentation regarding the governance of the university before officials of the ministry.