Shimla, Himachal Pradesh Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday objected to state Agriculture Minister Chander Kumar's comments, blaming the Raj Bhavan for the delay in appointment of a vice-chancellor of the Palampur agricultural university.
Taking strong exception to Kumar's statement that files related to the appointment of the VC of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya at Palampur were pending in Raj Bhavan, the governor asserted that no such file was pending.
Addressing the media here, the governor said the Agriculture Minister's remarks appeared in a press section, blaming the delay on Raj Bhavan. Therefore, he said, he considered it appropriate to respond through the press and said that it is wrong to blame Raj Bhawan as there is no pending file.
"Chander Kumar along with another minister Anirudh Singh had met me and I told them clearly that there was no file pending with me. But still he blamed me for the delay, prompting me to go to the press."
"I have forwarded the bill to the government with comments and it is still pending with the government," he said, noting that universities across the country are largely funded by state governments, but that does not mean they can do what they want. want, he said.
The governor said Palampur agricultural university is also a technical university and the search committee consists of representatives of ICAR, UGC and the governor. They started the selection process as per the old practice, but a professor of the university moved the high court and got the stay, he added.
"I am keen that the vice-chancellor (VC) be appointed at the earliest for the smooth functioning of the university and efforts should be made to expedite the matter and get the suspension lifted," he said, adding that he was not just the governor but also the rector of the university.
Governor Shukla said the state government wants to have a say in the appointment of the VC. A bill in this regard has been passed in the Vidhan Sabha, seeking the government's opinion on the appointment of the VC, he said, adding that the government wants the governor to endorse the name sent by him for the appointment of the VC.
The government's argument was that most of the funding for the university was being done by it, but universities across the country are funded by state governments and that does not mean they can do whatever they want, the governor added.
Shukla said that even Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla was without a regular VC for over a year and he had asked the government to give the name of his representative. He appointed the chief secretary, who was named chairman of the search committee, but no progress has been made.
"I have written to the chief secretary to expedite the process," Shukla said.
Referring to the law and order situation in the state, the governor said it was not bad but being a small state, even small incidents get attention and as such the government must ensure that the law is not violated. law.
Replying to a question, the governor said no minister was present at the International Yoga Day function organized by the Ayush department on June 21.
"It was a matter of pride that June 21 was declared Yoga Day by the United Nations at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that 137 countries were celebrating Yoga Day," he said.
"Yoga Day was celebrated at Raj Bhawan and I attended the function organized by the Ayush Department," he said, adding that it was not a function of any political party but leaders of all parties should have participated in it. .
Taking strong exception to Kumar's statement that files related to the appointment of the VC of Chaudhary Sarwan Kumar Himachal Pradesh Krishi Vishvavidyalaya at Palampur were pending in Raj Bhavan, the governor asserted that no such file was pending.
Addressing the media here, the governor said the Agriculture Minister's remarks appeared in a press section, blaming the delay on Raj Bhavan. Therefore, he said, he considered it appropriate to respond through the press and said that it is wrong to blame Raj Bhawan as there is no pending file.
"Chander Kumar along with another minister Anirudh Singh had met me and I told them clearly that there was no file pending with me. But still he blamed me for the delay, prompting me to go to the press."
"I have forwarded the bill to the government with comments and it is still pending with the government," he said, noting that universities across the country are largely funded by state governments, but that does not mean they can do what they want. want, he said.
The governor said Palampur agricultural university is also a technical university and the search committee consists of representatives of ICAR, UGC and the governor. They started the selection process as per the old practice, but a professor of the university moved the high court and got the stay, he added.
"I am keen that the vice-chancellor (VC) be appointed at the earliest for the smooth functioning of the university and efforts should be made to expedite the matter and get the suspension lifted," he said, adding that he was not just the governor but also the rector of the university.
Governor Shukla said the state government wants to have a say in the appointment of the VC. A bill in this regard has been passed in the Vidhan Sabha, seeking the government's opinion on the appointment of the VC, he said, adding that the government wants the governor to endorse the name sent by him for the appointment of the VC.
The government's argument was that most of the funding for the university was being done by it, but universities across the country are funded by state governments and that does not mean they can do whatever they want, the governor added.
Shukla said that even Himachal Pradesh University in Shimla was without a regular VC for over a year and he had asked the government to give the name of his representative. He appointed the chief secretary, who was named chairman of the search committee, but no progress has been made.
"I have written to the chief secretary to expedite the process," Shukla said.
Referring to the law and order situation in the state, the governor said it was not bad but being a small state, even small incidents get attention and as such the government must ensure that the law is not violated. law.
Replying to a question, the governor said no minister was present at the International Yoga Day function organized by the Ayush department on June 21.
"It was a matter of pride that June 21 was declared Yoga Day by the United Nations at the request of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and that 137 countries were celebrating Yoga Day," he said.
"Yoga Day was celebrated at Raj Bhawan and I attended the function organized by the Ayush Department," he said, adding that it was not a function of any political party but leaders of all parties should have participated in it. .
