VC Panjab University Expresses Hope After Meeting with UGC and MHRD Officials

After the financial crisis that plagued Punjab University and subsequent meeting with the Ministry of HRD and University Grants Commission (UGC), Arun Kumar Grover, Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University expressed his hope that concerns of PU would be addressed.

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Elaborating on the outcome of the meeting, the Chancellor said that he had a detailed meeting with officials of UGC, the secretary, MHRD, and among others. The MHRD counsel is expected to file a report in the High Court on Monday, December 19, 2016. The Government of India is giving serious consideration to the matter as it should deserve. He expressed his hope that their concerns are being addressed.

As per the sources from the University, it is learnt that PU is likely to get INR 44 crore sanction as a grant. The Punjab and Haryana High Courts led and convened the meeting.

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The University has conveyed to UGC and MHRD about the lack of funds to facilitate salaries to employees from December to March. In the event of this disclosure, Punjab and Chandigarh High Court had summoned MHRD, UGC and PU to meet to find a solution to the momentary crisis. The minutes of the meeting will be submitted to the court on December 19, 2016.

Initially, the Central Government had allocated Rs. 176 crores for Panjab University. This grant is being disbursed through instalments. But Panjab University is yet to receive Rs. 44 crore as yet from the Central Government. Panjab University has projected an expense of Rs. 277 crore for the current financial year. Besides that the varsity needs another INR 101 crore for its expenditure. The VC had earlier emphasised upon the fact that without the funds, PU may be forced to shut down.