University ‘whistleblower’ lands in Canadian residency controversy - Hindustan Times
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University ‘whistleblower’ lands in Canadian residency controversy

Hindustan Times | By, Patiala
Oct 24, 2016 04:53 PM IST

Professor of management studies of Punjabi University, Dr Pushpinder Singh, a self-proclaimed ‘whistleblower’ in the university corruption case, has landed himself in a soup over the alleged permanent residency (PR) of Canada, a charge denied by him.

Professor of management studies of Punjabi University, Dr Pushpinder Singh, a self-proclaimed ‘whistleblower’ in the university corruption case, has landed himself in a soup over the alleged permanent residency (PR) of Canada, a charge denied by him.

Professor of management studies of Punjabi University, Dr Pushpinder Singh, a self-proclaimed ‘whistleblower’ in the university corruption case, has landed himself in a soup over the alleged permanent residency (PR) of Canada, a charge denied by him.(Representative image)
Professor of management studies of Punjabi University, Dr Pushpinder Singh, a self-proclaimed ‘whistleblower’ in the university corruption case, has landed himself in a soup over the alleged permanent residency (PR) of Canada, a charge denied by him.(Representative image)

The university has been served a legal notice by advocate Harbhajan Singh Virk over the Canadaina PR of Dr Pushpinder and directed the university to take action against the latter under the provision of the Punjab Civil Services Rules.

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“As per service rules of the Punjab government, a person cannot work with the Punjab government after getting the PR status of any other country, but Pushpinder Singh is working illegally here and also in Canada,” read the legal notice served on the registrar of the university. In the legal notice, served on behalf of one Gurmeet Singh of Rasulpur Saidan village, it has been alleged that Pushpinder was having the PR of Canada and he has also worked in that country.

Punjab service rules don’t allow anyone to have dual citizenship. The Punjab government has already directed all departments and universities to take affidavits from all employees to the effect that they didn’t have any other country’s citizenship. Punjabi University is yet to collect such affidavits.

The legal notice has been served a fortnight after when an unsigned letter was distributed in the university alleging Pushpinder was having Canadian PR, apart from levelling the allegations related to his working style, raising questions that the latter has raked up controversies after he was denied a plum post by the vice-chancellor.

Pushpinder had raised the issue of corruption in academics and construction work, violation of merit in selections for jobs through Facebook posts and was also instrumental in closing down an illegal private hostel hired by the university for NRI students.

After his allegations, the vice-chancellor has formed a committee to oversee all procurement work and the tendering process, in which Pushpinder was included as a special invitee.

When Contacted, Dr Pushpinder denied that he was having the PR of Canada. “Let me clarify you that in 2005, me and my family had taken the PR of Canada by taking due permission of the university. However, as I failed to meet the mandatory stay at Canada, my PRship was not turned into citizenship. Right now, neither I am having PR status nor the visa of Canada,” said Pushpinder. He said that he has been deliberately targeted for raising voice against corruption.

“The registrar has informed me about legal notice, and I have said that I would submit an affidavit that I don’t have a citizenship of any other country. I will contest the case in the court, as charges are frivolous and motivated to build pressure to stop me from raising voice against corruption,” he added.

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