Chandigarh, Feb 8: The Punjab government has strongly opposed Haryana’s demand of affiliation of its colleges in the tricity with Panjab University (PU) and the latter’s say in the functioning of the apex governing body of the varsity, the senate, in lieu of helping the institution tide over the financial crisis.
For 2017-18, the PU had approved of around Rs 515 crore, with the deficit (expenditure minus revenues) expected at around Rs 245 crore.
“Right from beginning, it (PU) has emerged as an educational and cultural symbol of Punjab’s legacy and inheritance to an extent that it has almost become synonymous with the state of Punjab…The state of Haryana cannot arrogate itself the privileges of altering history as and when it wishes,” Punjab has said referring to Haryana’s proposal and citing that it was Haryana, which withdrew and disaffiliated its colleges in 1976.The Punjab government’s response was submitted in the Punjab and Haryana high court on Wednesday during resumed hearing of a suo motu petition by the high court in 2016 on reports of poor financial health of the varsity.
Haryana has expressed its willingness to share the burden, but with a rider.
It is ready to fund university up to Rs 25 crore annually but the state wants it be given representation in senate on the lines of Punjab. Punjab chief minister, director public instructions, minister of education are ex-officio members of senate. Punjab also nominates two MLAs to the Senate.
“The tricity was always in existence even when the state of Haryana decided to de-affiliate its colleges and severed all linkages with the university. There has been no change in the character of the tricity since that time.. ..The argument of the tricity is implausible and is an afterthought,” the government said.
News Source: https://www.hindustantimes.com
