Chandigarh: The Governor of Punjab has sanctioned a one-time grant of Rs 5 lakh for the family of Panjab University (PU) research scholar Jyoti, explicitly recording in the official order that she lost her life due to electrocution in the university’s waterlogged South Campus. The sanction under the Punjab Discretionary Grant rules has been issued in favour of her father, Ravinder Kumar, with the family receiving the order.Jyoti’s paternal uncle, Jitendra Kumar, confirmed that the family had received the sanction order issued by the Governor’s secretariat, Lok Bhavan, Punjab. The amount however, is yet to be credited to the family’s bank account.The order, dated Nov 4 and forwarded to the offices concerned on Nov 11, sanctions withdrawal of Rs 5 lakh from the Governor’s Discretionary Grant Fund under Rule 4(1)(a) of the Punjab Discretionary Grant (Regulation of Expenditure) Rules, 1953. It names Ravinder Kumar, a resident of Kakrala village in Haryana’s Mahendragarh district, as the beneficiary.Significantly, the order specifically states that the grant is one-time financial assistance for the family of Jyoti, a PhD scholar at Panjab University, who “lost her life due to electrocution in Panjab University’s waterlogged South Campus on 28.07.2026”. The wording places the circumstances of her death on record in the formal sanction issued by the governor’s secretariat.The order directs that the grant be utilised at the earliest and that a utilisation certificate be furnished to the secretariat. It also clarifies that no recurring expenditure can be made from the fund. Copies have been forwarded to the Accountant General, Punjab (Audit and A&E), District Treasury Officer, Punjab Treasury, Chandigarh, and the Deputy Commissioner, UT Chandigarh.The Governor’s grant is separate from the financial assistance announced by PU after Jyoti’s death. The university had approved Rs 5 lakh from the Vice-Chancellor’s discretionary fund and Rs 11 lakh through the office of the dean, student welfare. It had also assured employment to her younger brother, Pawan Kumar, who has now received an appointment letter for the post of junior technician (electrician) at PU’s Extension Library in Ludhiana.However, the question of accountability in Jyoti’s death remains. The magisterial enquiry report forwarded by the Chandigarh administration to PU on Oct 27 recommended fixing individual responsibility for electrical safety lapses and initiating or continuing departmental proceedings against officials concerned. It also called for an immediate electrical safety audit of the South Campus.Jyoti, 28, was pursuing a PhD in Microbiology. She died on July 28 near Girls Hostel No. 8 on PU’s South Campus while proceeding to her department.
