Chandigarh: Panjab University’s board of finance on Thursday deferred a controversial proposal to redesignate a technical officer’s post at its dental institute as physical director, making it the sole item put on hold out of 25 agenda items.The proposal, originating from Dr Harvansh Singh Judge Institute of Dental Sciences and Hospital, was approved by former vice-chancellor Renu Vig in March following recommendations by the institute’s joint academic and administrative committees. An office order issued on April 8 had already changed the post’s nomenclature, subject to formal ratification by the board of finance, syndicate, and senate.Board members deferred the matter citing a lack of documentary justification regarding the necessity, qualifications, and procedure for converting this specific post. While the Dental Council of India’s (DCI) 2007 BDS Course Regulations mandate one physical director for a 50-seat dental college, officials noted that the rule alone fails to explain why an existing technical post was converted instead of creating a new one.The terms of the re-designation stipulated that the incumbent would continue performing existing duties without any financial benefit, retaining technical officer (group-I) as the parent cadre for promotions, pay fixation, and service matters. The post was also non-transferable outside the dental institute.The move has also drawn internal opposition. Professor Gurmeet Singh Kapoor from PU’s department of physical education opposed the conversion, alleging preferential treatment and undue career advancement. Pointing out that PU already maintains a centralised directorate of sports and a department of physical education, Kapoor demanded the proposal’s withdrawal, an inquiry, and referenced pending criminal proceedings against the employee.With the deferral, the proposal remains stuck pending further procedural and regulatory clarifications from university authorities.
