On persuasion of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal, the Thapar University Patiala has decided to restore the 50% territorial quota for the students of Punjab. Disclosing this here today a spokesperson of the Chief Minister’s Office said that Badal, who prevailed upon the University authorities to reconsider their earlier decision. On his personal intervention, the University authorities namely JS Neerav, Vice Chairman, BoG and Shri. Abhijit Mukherjee, Director of the Thapar University appreciating the concern of the State Government, have conveyed their decision by handing over their letter today to S S Channy, Principal Secretary Technical Education and Industrial Training saying that “in deference to the wishes of the State Government and without going into the legality of the same, we agree that we will not implement the aforesaid decision, as taken by the BoG in its last meeting held on 24/02/2012, till the same is decided in the next BoG meeting after mutual discussions in accordance with the rules/by laws of the University”. It may be recalled that Badal took up this matter with Union Human Resources, Development, Communications & Information Technology Minister Kapil Sibal while highlighting the claim of the State of Punjab and its students saying that the University has come up in the present shape and stature solely on account of the State help which was there by way of giving them 250 acre of land and also grant-in-aid till the year 2001. Both the Govt. of India and the management were conveyed in no uncertain terms the rights of the State for this deemed University and advised as well as directed them not to deny the rights of the Punjab students to have the opportunity for the furtherance of their education in one of the State promoted deemed University of excellence. The issue of the State’s claim was also raised by the Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal and Technical Education Minister Anil Joshi and many other dignitaries, political parties and NGOs.
The spokesperson further said that the Thapar University authorities have also been advised by the state government to refer the matter to them and after due deliberations only the further course of action would be decided. The deemed Thapar University, Patiala which started way back in 1956 mainly on account of 250 acres land given by the PEPSU and financial assistance of 30 lacs from the then State Government and later on by the State Government under various schemes/programmes of the State as well as of the Govt. of India and the Govt. of State for serving the cause of education for the students of the State as well as of the nation while running state of the art technical institutions in their premises. Lately they are also in expanding mode while opening up off campuses. The BoG of the University in their 100th meeting held on 24/02/12 vide item no. S76.18 to consider the admissions to first year of under graduate Programme made the seats available to all the citizens of India regardless of race, religion, cast or creed and the area/place of residence under clause 15 of the UGC (Institutes Deemed to be University) 2010. In this BoG meeting both the representatives of the State Government i.e. PSTE and PSF could not attend and the BoG forwarded the minutes saying that the admissions would now be opened equally to all citizens of India and 50% territorial quota for the students of Punjab would not be available any longer. On receipt of the minutes before their confirmation, the State took up this matter with the Thapar University authorities including the Chairman and the Registrar of the University to reverse this decision and maintain the State quota as heretofore.