With the construction of Sant Attar Singh State Institute of Medical Sciences at Mastuana Sahib in Sangrur getting delayed over a land dispute, the local administration is looking for a temporary place to start MBBS classes from next session.
The research and education department has planned to initially offer 100 MBBS seats at the college, which will come up on 25 acres in Mastuana Sahib at a cost of ₹345 crore.
In August, Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann had laid the foundation stone for the college and announced that it will be functional from April 1, 2023.
However, after the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC) approached the Punjab and Haryana high court with the claim that the land belongs to them, the court later in August ordered a status quo on the college’s construction.
Meanwhile, locals have been protesting outside the residence of former SGPC president Gobind Singh Longowal at Longowal town here over the committee’s failure to withdraw the case, which the protesters say the committee had promised.
Jaswant Singh, who is leading the protest, said, “The SGPC had organised a press conference a few weeks back and promised to withdraw the case, but they are yet to do so. The SGPC is playing politics to stop the construction of the college and we will not let that happen.”
{{/usCountry}}Jaswant Singh, who is leading the protest, said, “The SGPC had organised a press conference a few weeks back and promised to withdraw the case, but they are yet to do so. The SGPC is playing politics to stop the construction of the college and we will not let that happen.”
{{/usCountry}}Sangrur deputy commissioner Jitendra Jorwal, said, “Though the college’s construction has been delayed, we will start classes from the next academic session. We are looking for a suitable place. The case will come up for hearing next on November 30 and we are hopeful of a positive outcome.”
SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami did not respond to repeated calls and messages.