Eye on protecting heritage character, Khalsa University Act repealed

Chandigarh, June 3: The Punjab government has promulgated an ordinance to repeal the Khalsa University Act, with a view to “protect the heritage character” of Khalsa College, Amritsar.

The promulgation order was issued by Punjab Governor VP Singh Badnore.

The decision to scrap the 2016 legislation was taken in April by the state cabinet, said an official release.

Higher Education Minister Aruna Chaudhary said Khalsa College had over a period of time become a significant icon of Khalsa Heritage and the university established in 2016 was likely to shadow and damage its character and pristine glory. The ordinance provides that admission to the affected students shall be given in other appropriate educational institutions of Punjab as per their eligibility, so that the interests of the students are not prejudicially affected.

The state cabinet, in its April meeting, had also decided to ensure that the students were accommodated in some other colleges on par, after taking their choice into consideration, to ensure that the future of the 300 students already admitted to the university was not jeopardized.

The Khalsa University (Repeal) Ordinance, 2017, will come into force from the date of its publication in the Official Gazette, said the release. The Khalsa University was established by the previous SAD-BJP alliance government despite huge criticism from the residents of Amritsar as well as the alumni of the college and intellectuals of the state.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh had all along maintained that the move by the Khalsa College Society to destroy its rich heritage status by converting this prestigious institution into a university was “appalling”. The government also felt that there was no need to set up another university in Amritsar which already has a few institutes of higher learning.

News Source: http://www.business-standard.com

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