CM WRITES LETTER TO AMIT SHAH, VEHEMENTLY OPPOSES CHANGE IN NATURE AND CHARACTER OF PANJAB UNIVERSITY

SAYS ANY SUCH DECISION WILL NOT BE ACCEPTABLE TO PEOPLE OF PUNJAB

Chandigarh, June 19: Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Sunday sought the kind intervention of Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to prevent any change in the nature and character of the Panjab University.

“The state government vehemently opposes any such move of Government of India to examine the feasibility of converting Panjab University into a Central University” wrote the Chief Minister in a letter to Amit Shah and Dharmendra Pradhan.

The Chief Minister apprised both the leaders that State Government will not like any change in the nature and character of the University as it has an emotional place in the hearts of the people of Punjab on account of historical, cultural and provincial reasons. He bemoaned that from last some time, forces with certain vested interests have been trying to push the matter for change of status of Panjab University into a Central University. Bhagwant Mann reminded both the leaders that at the time of the reorganization of the State of Punjab in 1966, Panjab University was declared as an 'Inter State Body Corporate' under section 72(1) of the Punjab Reorganization Act 1966 enacted by the Parliament.

The Chief Minister said that this status was duly confirmed in several judgments passed by courts. He said that ever since its inception, the Panjab University has been continuously and uninterruptedly functioning in the State of Punjab. Bhagwant reminded that it was shifted from Lahore, the then capital of Punjab, to Hoshiarpur and then to Chandigarh the present capital of Punjab adding that at present 175 colleges of Punjab situated in the districts of Fazilka, Ferozepur, Hoshiarpur, Ludhiana, Moga, Sri Muktsar Sahib and S.B.S Nagar are affiliated with the Panjab University.

The Chief Minister asserted that entire territorial jurisdiction of Panjab University lies primarily in state of Panjab and Union territory of Chandigarh. He said that as per Sub-section (4) of Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966, the maintenance deficit grants to the University were to be shared and paid by the States concerned, i.e., Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and UT Administration of Chandigarh in the ratio of 20:20:20:40, respectively. However, Bhagwant Mann said that states of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh decided to withdraw from this sharing arrangement adding that Government of Haryana also withdrew the affiliation of its colleges from the Panjab University.

Thus, the Chief Minister said that from 1976 onwards, the State of Punjab and UT Administration of Chandigarh have borne the financial responsibility of paying maintenance deficit grants to the University in the ratio of 40:60 respectively. He said that despite the increased financial burden caused by withdrawal of Haryana and Himachal Pradesh and the creation of new universities in the State, Punjab has continued to support Panjab University to ensure that the historical and emotional attachment of the people of Punjab with the University is maintained and preserved. Bhagwant Mann said that Government of Punjab is presently giving Grant-in-Aid of Rs. 42 crore to the University annually besides the nearly Rs. 100 crore annually collected by the University from the affiliated colleges located in Punjab.

The Chief Minister said that Panjab University is a symbol of Punjab’s legacy and is synonymous with name of State. He said that the University caters only to the State of Punjab and its capital Chandigarh so there exists no reason to alter the character of the University into a central one.

Citing the history of the University, its constitution, its ethnic, socio-cultural and historical roots as well as its faculty and students who hail primarily from the State of Punjab, Bhagwant Mann said that it important that the present legal and administrative status of the Panjab University should be preserved by the Government of India. “Any decision to the contrary will not be acceptable to the people of Punjab”, he added.

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Gram Sabhas have important role to play in bringing social and political change in State: Sandhwan

Gram Sabhas being organized from June 15 - June 26

Appeals to people living in rural areas to attend in large numbers

Chandigarh, June 19:The Speaker, Punjab Vidhan Sabha today said that the Gram Sabhas have an important role to play in bringing social and political change in Punjab and the residents of villages falling in Faridkot District who are members of the Gram Sabhas must take part with enthusiasm in the Gram Sabha sessions to be held in their villages from June 15 - 26.

Stressing the rejuvenation of the Gram Sabhas, Mr. Sandhwan said that all the resolutions passed during the sessions of these Gram Sabhas would be accepted by the Government and funds would also be made available in short time for development projects.

Divulging more, the Speaker said that without the active participation of Panchayats, the abovesaid mission cannot be successfully accomplished as 65 percent of State's population lives in the villages.

He further appealed to the Sarpanches-Panches and other elected representatives connected with the rural development to work with dedication in ensuring a golden future for the villages and assured that the villages would be equipped with facilities such as stadiums, gyms, and parks .

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Administration ensuring foolproof arrangements to hold smooth and transparent PC Sangrur by-elections: Returning Officer

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding last 48 hours comes into force from 6 pm, June 21: Jitendra Jorwal

Chandigarh/Sangrur, June 19:Returning Officer, Parliamentary Constituency-12 Sangrur Mr. Jitendra Jorwal, on Sunday, said that the constituency is all set for polls as all arrangements were being ensured to hold free, fair and peaceful by-elections. The RO informed that total State machinery of all nine assembly constituencies falling under PC- Sangrur is working round the clock to ensure peaceful, free and fair elections. He said that as many as 15,69,240 electorates including 8,30,056 Male, 7,39,140 Female and 44 Transgenders. There are 16 candidates— 13 Male and 3 Women, in fray for the by-election, he added.

Voting will take place in the Sangrur Parliamentary Constituency on June 23, 2022 from 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM. The counting of votes will be held on June 26, 2022.

Giving the briefing about law and order, Mr. Jitendra Jorwal said that Police and para military parties deployed across the constituency have been conducting thorough search to check the flow of liquor, narcotics and money to ensure free and fair elections.

Mr. Jorwal said that all the AROs and police officials have been keeping strict vigil to check the incidents of distribution of liquor, narcotics and money for inducing the voters and raids would be conducted immediately on receiving information or complaints.

He also informed that in view of Polls, the constituency has been declared a dry day on dates from 6pm on June 21, 2022 till conclusion of polls on June 23, 2022 and there will be complete ban on sale of liquor during this period.

The Returning Officer also informed that Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding last 48 hours come into force from 6 pm, June 21, 2022. He said that as per provisions of Manual on Model Code of Conduct, telecast of Election Matters, the convening/holding or attending, joining or addressing any public meeting/procession in connection with an election have been prohibited during the period of 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll in the polling area concerned. However, the prohibition was also made applicable to display of any election matter by means of cinematograph, television or other similar apparatus during the prohibited period of 48 hours.

He said that there will also be ban on unlawful assemblies and prohibition on holding of public meetings during the silence period, applicable for the area bound for polls.

]Meanwhile, as per the instructions of the Election Commission of India (ECI), the Punjab Government has announced a holiday on June 23, 2022 in view of the by-election election in poll bound assembly constituencies to facilitate the voters to exercise their franchise to vote. As per the provisions of Section 135B of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, the employees of Industrial Establishments, Commercial Establishments, Shops and Establishments will have a paid holiday on the date of polling in PC-Sangrur on June 23, 2022.

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\Department of Health & Family Welfare, Punjab

Media Bulletin COVID-19

19^th June 2022 (05:00 PM)

*After reconciliation of data, 1 sample added.

On 19^th June 2022

Patients reported Positive on 19^th June 2022 - 102

Cumulative Cases: -

*After reconciliation of data, 1 old confirmed case added to district Muktsar.