Centre considering Haryana’s request for share in Panjab University: Khattar

Khattar was speaking during the Haryana assembly session, where a non-official resolution regarding state’s share in Panjab University was unanimously passed by the House

Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar on Tuesday said the Union home ministry was considering the state government’s request for Haryana’s share in Panjab University (PU).

Chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar said Haryana’s share in Panjab University was taken up with Union home minister Amit Shah during the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Jaipur last month and he had assured the Haryana government of considering the matter. (HT Photo)

Khattar was speaking during the assembly session, where a non-official resolution regarding Haryana’s share in PU, moved by Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal, was unanimously passed by the House.

Khattar said Haryana’s share in PU was taken up with Union home minister Amit Shah during the Northern Zonal Council meeting in Jaipur last month and he had assured the Haryana government of considering the matter.

While making a statement in the House, education minister Kanwar Pal said on November 1, 1973, the Union ministry of home affairs (MHA), consequent upon the passing of the Kurukshetra University Act, issued a notification forfeiting the functions and operations of PU in Haryana. At the time, the number of Haryana colleges affiliated to PU was 63.

Later on October 27, 1997, an amendment was again made by MHA, by which the presence of Haryana government and its candidates was removed from various PU bodies. A civil writ petition in this regard is pending before the Punjab and Haryana high court and listed for October 14.

The minister said initially PU’s budget was shared by Punjab, Haryana and the Chandigarh administration, but now, the university’s expenses were borne by the central and Punjab government – the former funding 92% of the budget and the latter 8%.

He said 168 colleges in Punjab were currently affiliated to PU, but due to the November 1973 notification, there was no such college in Haryana, adding that 42 colleges of Panchkula, Ambala and Yamunanagar should be linked with PU.

The minister informed the House that the chief minister had written to the Union home minister on July 31 to initiate the process of restoration of Haryana’s share in PU, adding that the letter was being examined by UGC.

He further said the high court had also directed the central government to consider conversion of PU into a central university and the case was listed for August 30.