PTU V-C post: Top contenders skip interview

CHANDIGARH: Two main contenders for the post of vice-chancellor of Inder Kumar Gujaral-Punjab Technical University Kapurthala (IKG-PTU) did not appear before the selection panel on Saturday. This comes a few days after Punjab government shortlisted eight candidates for the final interview.

Renowned educationalist MP Punia and professor Lalit Awasthi, director, National Institute of Technology (NIT), Jalandhar, failed to appear before the selection panel formed by the government under the chairmanship of former V-C of IKG-PTU Dr SK Salwan.

HT had earlier reported that Punia and Awasthi were hesitant to appear for the interview, keeping in view their present prestigious postings. They had not even applied for the post in the fresh applications invited .

Punia, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) vice-chairman, was reportedly requested by technical education minister Charanjit Channi to appear before the panel. It was said there was unanimity at the government-level to appoint Punia as the next V-C, courtesy his academic record.

Under the SAD-BJP regime, a selection panel, headed by then chief secretary Sarvesh Kaushal, had shortlisted Punia as a top contender among a list of three candidates. But since the then technical education minister Madan Mohan Mittal was strongly opposed to Kaushal’s decision-making, Punia’s name was not given the go-ahead. Punia was director, NITTTR, at that time.

Even as the selection panel had reportedly suggested shortlisting of top three contenders after the interview , the government, however, after Punia and Awasthi’s exit is now left with “fewer choices”, said sources. Leading the race , as per sources, is professor BK Ratan, former chairman of Chemical Engineering department of Panjab University, Chandigarh. “With a non-controversial image and no direct political affiliation, Ratan is one of the strongest candidates,” said a senior official of the technical education department.

Another key contender for the post is Dr Ajay Sharma, director of NIT Delhi. “Though the final selection has to be done by the government, but academic and administrative experience of both Ratan and Ajay Sharma is hard to ignore,” said an official.