By Jagpreet Sandhu,Chandigarh : The Syndicate of the Panjab University at its meeting held here today – Observed two minutes silence, all standing, to condole the sad demise of Dr. Hargobind Khurana, Noble Laureate and Prof (Mrs.) Saudamini Bambah, former Chairperson, Department of Physical Education, P.U.
The House approved the recommendations of the Professor Bambah Committee to confer Honoris Causa Degrees on the following dignitaries in the forthcoming Convocation:- 1. Dr. N.K. Ganguly, Padma Bhushan, Renowned Medical Scientist 2. Dr. M.S. Swaminathan, Padma Vibhushan, Renowned Agricultural Scientist. 3. H.E. Sh. N.N. Vohra, Governor of Jammu & Kashmir and an alumnus of Panjab University. 4. Sh. Pawan Kumar Bansal, Union Cabinet Minister and an alumnus of Panjab University. 5. Smt. Sushma Swaraj, Member of Parliament and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha and an alumnus of Panjab University.
The recommendations to award the Vigyan Ratna to Dr. V.P. Kamboj and the Udyog Ratna to Shri Pratap K. Aggarwal were also approved. Professor D. Balasubramanian, Director of Research, L.V. Prasad Eye Institute has been offered the Visiting Professorship on account of his pioneer research in stem cell technology. The House appreciated the accolades brought to the University by the Vice- Chancellor, Professor R.C. Sobti and Professor R.K. Kohli for bagging the prestigious Fellowship of Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi.
The Vice-Chancellor has also been awarded Fellowship of the Association of Microbiologists of India and has received the Subramaniam Oration Award. The charge of Dean Alumni Relations has been given to Dr. Neelam Grover (USOL). Dr. V.K. Walia had requested to be relieved of the charge due to his ill health. The House approved the request of the Vice-Chancellor to Mr. Justice (Retd.) N.K. Aggarwal to hold a detailed enquiry into the matter of Professor A.D. Ahluwalia’s complaints regarding the vacation of his room in the Department of Geology.
The matter of giving a personal hearing prior to sanctioning the prosecution of Shri Satish Padam, XEN and Shri Nand Lal, S.D.O., Panjab University as per the decision of the Senate on 15.10.2011, was referred back to the Senate in the light of a letter received from the C.B.I. that cited C.V.C. (Central Vigilance Commission) guidelines to be followed by the sanctioning authority u/s 19 of the PC Act. The House decided to take a lenient view and not to initiate any disciplinary proceedings against Prof. Raj K. Gupta, Chief Coordinator, Institute of Educational Technology and Vocational Education, P.U. for defying orders of the authorities.
A sub-committee was constituted to study the report of the enquiry committee into the complaint of sexual harassment made by a Law student of the P.U. Regional Centre, Muktsar and to recommend future course of action on the same. The price of application form for Enrolment as Registered Graduate was enhanced from twenty-five paisa to rupee one. Further the form will now be available on line.
The recommendation of the Committee constituted to look into the API format for the University was accepted. The Committee recommended approval of the format strictly as per U.G.C. guidelines. The Committee also proposed the formation of a Standing Committee under the Chairpersonship of the D.U.I. that would comprise of the Dean of the concerned Faculty, two senior-most Professors and President, PUTA in the event that any clarifications were required. Certain items from the Agenda were withdrawn as they were violative of the Code of Conduct in place due to the M.C. Elections.