Days after asking Punjab to leave Chandigarh as the capital of Haryana, the Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar has now urged the Central government for restoration of Haryana’s share in Panjab University.
In a letter to the Union home minister, Rajnath Singh, the CM has given the reference of the Punjab and Haryana High Court motion directing the Haryana’s principal secretary (higher education), to hold the parleys with the Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University for restoration of Haryana’s share in it.
Under the provision of Section 26 of the Panjab University Act, prior to 1966, the colleges situated in the then state of Punjab were affiliated to Panjab University.
After the introduction of Punjab Reorganization Act in 1966, under the provisions of section 72 of Panjab University Act, the Punjab University became an inter-state body corporate and continued to operate in all previous areas including those that were now a part of Haryana.
After the establishing of Guru Nanak Dev University, Amritsar, Punjabi University, Patiala and Kurukshetra University, Kurukshetra, notifications were issued by Union home ministry in 1969, Punjab government in 1970 and Haryana government in 1973 and 1997, whereby the Punjab University ceased to operate in Haryana.
He further conveyed that based upon the parleys held in pursuance of the orders of High Court, the Haryana government has decided to restore its share in Punjab University, Chandigarh provided a notification is issued by Union home ministry that colleges situated in some of the Haryana districts might be affiliated with Panjab University.
These affiliated colleges would be allowed to follow reservation policy of Haryana for admissions whereas for admissions in the courses on Panjab University Campus, the central reservation policy would be followed.
The Panjab University would allow Haryana to follow its own fee structure for such affiliated colleges. Haryana government would be willing to give as grant-in-aid to Panjab University an amount equivalent with the contribution of Punjab government, Khattar said.
The earlier pattern of representation of the Haryana in the Senate, Syndicate and Board of Finance of Panjab University, as ex-officio fellow members (as well as reservation to persons from Haryana in various elected constituencies) would be followed.
The CM explained that the process of restoration of Haryana’s share in Panjab University, Chandigarh is required in view of the fact that over the years the composition and character of Chandigarh has evolved as a larger entity, i.e. ‘tri-city’. Besides a large number of students from Haryana take admission in various advanced and professional courses of Panjab University.