Haryana varsity scraps 15 holidays

ROHTAK: Chaudhary Bansi Lal University (CBLU) in Bhiwani on Sunday said it had scrapped 15 government holidays, including the birth and death anniversaries of prominent personalities, from its list in the ongoing session.

The varsity, however, said they took the decision in this regard on March 31, during the 11th Executive Council meeting of the university, and were not following the footsteps of the Yogi government in Uttar Pradesh that had announced to cancel 15 holidays in April.

“The decision was taken on March 31. The university has decided to send this for news today,” an official spokesperson of the university said.

The university spokesperson said the decision would benefit the students with their studies. She said the step was taken to follow UGC guidelines that makes it mandatory for universities to hold classes for at least 90 days in each semester.

CBLU vice-chancellor Professor SK Gakhar said, “Keeping in view the interests of the students, the jayantis of great personalities would be celebrated as festivals which would enable the students to understand them and follow their teachings in their lives.”

He said that while other varsities in the state have declared 27 holidays, excluding Saturdays and Sundays, CBLU has declared only 16 holidays excluding Sundays. Saturdays will be holidays only for the non-teaching staff and studies will continue.

The jayantis and festivals falling on Sundays will be celebrated by the university one day earlier so that students could be apprised of the achievements related to them, Prof Gakhar added.