Punjab govt issues show-cause notice to LPU for violating Covid-19 lockdown norms

Days after student tests positive, private university with foreign students on it rolls gets a week to explain or NOC will be withdrawn for endangering lives of 3,200 people, and many more

Days after a 21-year-old woman student and hostel inmate of Lovely Professional University (LPU) near here tested positive for coronavirus disease (Covid-19), the Punjab government issued a show-cause notice to the private institution for violating lockdown norms.

the Punjab higher education minister had ordered the suspension of teaching in all institutions, including private ones, on March 13. (HT PHOTO)

In the notice issued on Thursday, the state higher education and language department asked Phagwara-based LPU, which also has foreign students on its rolls, to explain within seven days on why the no objection certificate issued to it should not be withdrawn for violating government orders and endangering the lives of 3,200 people, and many more.

When contacted over phone, LPU additional director Aman Mittal said, “We have received the letter of the Punjab government and will file the reply.” He declined to comment further.

‘IGNORED GRAVITY OF SITUATION’

The notice said that the Punjab higher education minister had ordered the suspension of teaching in all institutions, including private ones, on March 13. “It has now come to light that in spite of the instructions, ignoring the gravity of the situation and jeopardising the lives of about 3,200 people and thousands of others to which infection can spread, you did not shut down completely,” the notice said.

“Considering the highly infectious nature of the disease and despite the fact that there was sufficient time for you to send all students to their respective homes from March 13 to March 22, but for no reasons you continued with the functioning of the university and the hostels and made no effort to send them to their homes,” it said.

MISLED LOCAL ADMINISTRATION

The notice said: “It might be argued by you that the movement of students was not possible in the light of the complete lockdown. There is no denying the fact that norms about maintaining social distancing were flouted and the administration was informed that the university was shut and vacated, while that was not the case. It is amply clear that you did not pay any heed to instructions of the district administration on March 23 and kept it in dark. When the world is battling this deadly virus and the only remedy is complete isolation, your administration threw all instructions to the winds and put hundreds of lives at risk.”