PTU VC: NIT EXHEAD IS FRONTRUNNER

CHANDIGARH: Former director of the National Institute of Technology (NIT), Delhi, Ajay Sharma has emerged as the frontrunner for the post of vice-chancellor of IK Gujral Punjab Technical University, Kapurthala.

According to information, a three-member panel, suggested by the search committee, include names of Sharma, Yogender Yadav, former director of the Swaran Singh National Institute of Renewal Energy, Kapurthala, and KK Raina, former deputy director, Thapar University, who is now vicechancellor of a private university in Uttarakhand.

Eight people, who were shortlisted from among 40 applications, were interviewed by the selection committee, led by former IKG-PTUVCSK Salwan, on September 9.

“The selection committee has given three names and the government was in the process of verifying their credentials,” said a senior government functionary.

Sources, however, said that Sharma, who scored highest marks in the interview, is likely to be appointed to the coveted post.

Sharma, who hails from Palampur of Himachal Pradesh, is settled in Punjab and has done his schooling in Patiala’s Rajpura district. He has also served as director of NIT, Hamirpur, and dean (planning and development), NIT, Jalandhar.

He graduated from Guru Nanak Dev Engineering College, Ludhiana.

Sharma is also holding the charge of newly opened Indian Institutes of Information Technology, Una.

“Sharma’s vast experience and is knowledge about Punjab makes him the leading contender. Whereas Raina and Yadav are non-Punjabis and are less experienced then Sharma,” said a senior functionary.

When contacted, technical education minister Charanjit Singh Channi said he was yet to get the final names suggested by the selection panel.

“But I can assure you that we would come out with the best man for the top post in the next few days,” said Channi.

8 PEOPLE, WHO WERE SHORTLISTED FROM AMONG 40, WERE INTERVIEWED AND A FINAL LIST OF THREE HAS BEEN MADE; AJAY SHARMA SCORED THE HIGHEST MARKS