2018-19 budget of Rs 556.38cr gets a final nod

CHANDIGARH: With an uncovered deficit of Rs 179 crore, Panjab University (PU) senate, on Saturday, gave a final nod to the budget of Rs 556.38 crore for the year 2018-19. The current year’s budget is Rs 527 crore. In particular, Rs 23.28 crore is earmarked for completion of the multipurpose auditorium in Sector 25, which has already been by the senate.

The senate also approved the recommendations regarding the major repairs of the roof of the PU regional centre, PU in Shri Muktsar Sahib. It also approved the revised fee structure of hostels and PU Swami Sarvanand Giri regional centre, Hoshiarpur for the year 2017-18.

PUTA president Rajesh Gill raised the issue of not including the incomes of Panjab University Alumni Association (PUAA) in the university’s income and expenditure statement. On this, it was clarified that

PUAA

is a separate legal entity registered under the Societies Registration Act (1860) and hence, the income and expenditure of PUAA cannot be included in the statement of that of PU. “The office of dean of alumni relations had been created by PU and expenses related to this office only get reflected in the PU budget document.”

The president and secretary of PUTA expressed serious concerns relating to recommendation of board of finance and syndicate for signing MoU with State Bank of India for issue of Combo Cards to students, researchers, faculty and non-teaching staff, citing apprehensions over security issues. It was, therefore, agreed that a joint committee comprising representatives of PUTA, PUSA and Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) shall meet SBI representatives to seek clarifications on this. It was pointed out by FDO that move for Combo Cards was initiated on the articulation of its requirement by PUCSC.

Annual convocation to be held on March 4, 2018

List of people to be awraded

- Smt Sumitra Mahajan , Doctorate of Laws (Honoris Causa)

- Prof M M Sharma (FRS), DSc (Honoris Causa)

- Prof Sir Tejinder Singh Virdee (FRS), DSc, (Honoris Causa)

- Shri Milkha Singh, (Khel Rattan)

- Prof B N

Goswami

, (Gyan Rattan)

- Shri Sunil Kant Munjal, (Udyog Rattan)

Vikram Seth to deliver lecture

The 2nd Dr Urmi Kessar Memorial Lecture/Oration has been awarded to a highly acclaimed novelist and poet Vikram Seth. The event is scheduled at 4.30 pm on January 8, 2018, in the University Auditorium. As per a revised provision in the Endowment for Dr Urmi Kessar Memorial Lecture/Oration, an honorarium of Rs 5 lakh is envisaged to be paid to the speaker. Prof Rumina Sethi, Dept of English and Cultural Studies shall be during an interaction with Vikram Seth on January 8, 2018.