3 asst profs who ‘blew whistle’ get termination orders

3 asst profs who ‘blew whistle’ get termination orders

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Patiala:  02.08.2020

The three professors of Government Mohindra College, who had, last year, blown the whistle on the misappropriation of the college funds by the authorities, have been issued termination orders for ‘interacting with the media’.

Last year, three assistant professors of the college — Amarinder Singh Tiwana, Mandeep Singh and Jashandeep — had filed a complaint with the state vigilance bureau and higher officials of the state education department alleging that former principal of the college had violated the rules and engaged in misappropriation of funds worth several crores of rupees. The complaint entailed a vigilance probe, which has not been completed till date.

However, on July 29, the board of governors, headed by college principal Prof Simrat Kaur, ordered termination of the services of the three assistant professors, who had been appointed in the college on contractual basis. The reason mentioned in the termination letter is, ‘instead of resolving the issues through mutual interaction, the three assistant professors went to the media.’ As the vigilance probe was heading nowhere, the three assistant professors in February had held a press conference at Chandigarh alleging ‘lack of professionalism in the inquiry’. The professors had claimed that they had written to the principal secretary (higher education), superintendent of police (vigilance), the director public instructions and the college principal. Even as two separate inquiries — one by the vigilance and the other by the secretary higher education had been ordered — both the authorities continued to drag their feet over the issue.

In their complaint last year, the three had stated that the college authorities had indulged in large scale misappropriation of funds of RUSA, the parent-teacher association (PTA) and the Higher Education Institute Society, a self-finance society of the college.

While the state government had held back the retirement benefits of the former principal of the college, but till now no further action has been taken into the complaint filed by them.

Principal Kaur said, “The decision to terminate the services of three assistant professors has been taken by the board of governors.” When asked if the board was being headed by her, she refused to take any further questions and switched off her mobile phone. The assistant professors have now alleged that they were repeatedly called to the principal’s office and asked to withdraw the complaint.

Last year, Amarinder Singh Tiwana, Mandeep Singh and Jashandeep had claimed said that former principal has misused funds