1 out of these 9 will be next Panjab University VC

CHANDIGARH: Nine candidates were interviewed for the post of Panjab University vicechancellor at Jawaharlal Nehru University in Delhi on Tuesday. Top sources said the candidates include a woman candidate, Anu Singh Lather, a pro-vice-chancellor of Delhi Technological University; RK Kohli, vice-chancellor of Central university of Bathinda, Punjab; Dr SP Bansal, vicechancellor of Himachal Pradesh Technical University.Of the ninecandidateswho appeared for interview, four have been associated with PU either as alumni or as faculty members.PU had received 169 applications for the post of vice-chancellor. The search committee consists of JNU vice-chancellor Prof M Jagadesh Kumar, JNU pro-vice-chancellor Prof Kapil Kapoor and M Ramachandran, former urban development secretary. The top post was advertised on March 30 and the deadline for receiving the applications was April31. The term of the outgoing VC Arun Kumar Grover gets over on July 22. He was appointed when he was 59 years old. R C Sobti was also 59 years old when he became the PU vice-chancellor before Grover took over.It is mandatory that the applicant has at least 10 years of experience as a professor in a university or in an equivalent position in a reputed research or academic administrative organisation. However, no age embargo was put for applicants. Many of the applications for the top post have been submitted from the south Indian states, besides the on-campus staff of PU.According to the PU Act, the VC will hold office for a term of three years which “may be extended by the chancellor for such further periods not exceeding three years at a time, as he may deem fit”.