The rift between Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann and Governor Banwarilal Purohit continues over the appointment of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) vice-chancellor. Now, CM Mann has slammed the Governor for regularly ”interfering” in the functioning of his government, terming his actions ”wrong and unconstitutional.”
Bhagwant Mann replied to Purohit’s letter seeking removal of Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) vice-chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal, terming his appointment “totally illegal”. In his letter, the Punjab CM not only justified the exercise but also told Banwarilal Purohit that the people of Punjab are upset because of his actions.
”For the past a few months, you have been constantly interfering in the functioning of the government, which was elected with a huge mandate. People of Punjab are very upset because of this,” he said adding that the VC is a Sikh face.
In his scathing reply to the Governor, the CM further asked on whose instructions was he carry out such ”wrong and unconstitutional” works and why he agreed to do this.
‘Governor has no role’: CM
Bhagwant Mann said that the appointment of Satbir Singh Gosal was done in accordance with Punjab and Haryana Agricultural University Act 1970. Further, he categorically conveyed that CM or Governor has no role as the the appointment to this post is the prerogative of PAU board.
“Dr Satbir Singh Gosal is a known scientist and a respectable Punjabi Sikh. Your direction to remove such a person has become a cause of anger among Punjabis,” read the letter.
”The VC is appointed by the board of the PAU. There is no role of a chief minister or Governor in it,” wrote the CM as he cited the examples of previous appointments of Baldev Singh Dhillon and M S Kang as vice chancellors of the university.
He said no approval of the Governor was sought in appointing any of the previous vice chancellors. ”Therefore, Dr Satbir Singh Gosal has also been appointed as per law, like it used to be done earlier,” said Mann.
Punjab CM vs Governor
The Governor, who is the chancellor of the PAU, said on Tuesday that the government had appointed Gosal without following the norms of the University Grants Commission, or seeking his (the chancellor’s) approval.
“Since Satbir Singh Gosal has been appointed V-C of PAU by the Punjab government, you are requested to remove the said V-C, who has been illegally appointed, without further delay,” Purohit wrote.
“You are also requested to instruct your concerned department to initiate the process of appointment of new VC in consultation with the chancellor. I hope you will realise the seriousness of the issue and take corrective measures immediately in the right spirit.”
This is not the first instance where the Punjab Governer and the ruling AAP were seen in disagreement. On October 11, Purohit had turned down the government’s appointment of Dr Gurpreet Wander as VC of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences, Faridkot. He had asked the government to send a panel with the names of three candidates to him even though Mann had already announced Dr Wander’s name as the new VC.
Earlier, the governor had withdrawn his assent to the Cabinet’s proposal to summon a special session of the Vidhan Sabha to move a no confidence motion.
