Punjabi University Teachers Association protest over agreement violation

PATIALA: The members of Punjabi University Teachers Association (PUTA) on Monday organised over two hours of protest in front of the official residence-cum-camp office of Prof. BS Ghuman, vice chancellor of Punjabi University, and raised slogans against the university administration.


PUTA members alleged that university administration has not honoured the two agreements duly signed between PUTA and university administration and this is a breach of trust and is actually a criminal offence.

They said as per the latest agreement, signed on 6 July, this year, the University has not released the first installment of Rs. 50 lakh up to July 31st as arrears to the promoted faculty. “Similarly, the university has not deducted and deposited the GPF and NPS amounts for the salary pertaining to the month of June so far. Further, as per the agreement the university has not even deposited the GPF and NPS deductions for the month of March 2020 which were to be deposited along with the salary of June. Moreover, the salary for the month of July has not been released until today which is due since 7th August,” said, PUTA president Jaswinder Singh Brar.

PUTA Secretary Dr. Gurnam Singh Virk said that not only the financial situation of the university is very grim and there is total administrative anarchy also. “The situation deteriorated to such an extent that no decision in any of the office is taken well on time. No promotion has been done under Career Advancement Scheme during last year. University is not pursuing with state government properly the case of appointment of professors as heads with eight years of teaching experience. University is not holding meetings to give the benefit of previous and ad hoc services in a transparent manner. University administration constituted a committee over the committee to cover up the irregularities of the past. University administration mastered the art of dilly-dallying”, Virk said.

“The 36 months tenure of VC Prof. Ghuman as Vice-Chancellor proved to be the worst in the history of the university. Under his tenure university has been laden with Rs. 150 Crores of debt. He failed miserably in arranging fund for the university which was his primary duty. In addition, Prof Ghuman failed to make any positive administrative impact. We have decided to continue with the protest at VC residence till university administration comes up with a permanent solution to university problems. We also appeal to Punjab CM Captain Amarinder Singh to take quick notice of fast deteriorating situation of university”, he added.