Rival parties in Punjab have criticized the Aam Aadmi Party administration for allegedly not following the law and proper protocol while appointing vice-chancellors. Their response followed Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s “completely unlawful” request that Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann dismisses Satbir Singh Gosal from his position as vice chancellor of the Punjab Agricultural University (PAU). Amrinder Singh Raja Warring, the head of the Punjab Congress, said in a statement: “By now, this administration should have realized that administrative appointments, unlike Rajya Sabha nominations, are made under a proper mechanism after following laws and regulations. The escalating conflict between the governor and the chief minister has caused him to express “great worry,” stating it was not promising for the state as the two must work in close coordination.
The PCC chairman noted that it was the second such instance in a week, as previously, the Governor did not accept the government’s nomination of cardiologist Dr. G. S. Wander as the vice chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences because the administration did not follow due protocol. “Either it is a violent and determined endeavor to not obey any rules or it is sheer ignorance about laws and regulations,” he said, referring to the recurrent humiliations of the administration.
He expressed sadness that an accomplished scientist like Dr. Sohal, otherwise a “well-deserving candidate to lead the PAU,” had to endure such humiliation because the AAP administration disregarded the laws. Partap Singh Bajwa, a senior Congressman, is also hit out at the AAP dispensation over the issue. “Another blunder of AAP govt in Punjab. After BFUHS VC appointment row, the governor termed the appointment of PAU VC, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal illegal.
This time, the AAP government disobeyed UGC regulations. When those with little information occupy positions of authority, this is what occurs “Tweeted he. According to BJP national general secretary Tarun Chugh, Chief Minister Mann has frequently attempted to undermine the elegance and dignity of the governor’s position.
According to Chugh, the chief minister had broken the law twice in the past two weeks to “disgrace” the governor. The BJP representative said that the AAP administration was “deliberately undermining” the governor’s authority, leading to a constitutional crisis in the state. “Such occurrences not only bring humiliation to the successful individuals, but also show how incapable the state administration has become of carrying out its duties,” Chugh said in a statement.
According to senior BJP leader and former MP Sunil Jakhar, the humiliation might have been averted if the state administration had adhered to proper protocol for an otherwise regular operation. “The Hon’ble Governor is the final appointing authority for appointing a VC, being the Chancellor of the State Universities,” Jakhar stated. Jakhar questioned, “Is there no one to notify the powers that a basic regulation that any name or a panel of names the government presents needs to be confirmed by the Governor before one is picked to manage the institution as the vice-chancellor.
Gosal, an agriculture specialist, was named vice-chancellor of the PAU in August, while the governor serves as the institution’s chancellor. Purohit said it had been brought to his notice that the government appointed Gosal without following UGC norms and the chancellor’s approval.
