G.K. University in the eye of storm

Hardwar, July 31 (UNI) Trouble is again brewing in Gurukul Kangri University, Hardwar, a deemed university of the central govt.

Two people are claiming to be the chancellor of the university.

As per statutes of the university the chancellor is elected by the presidents of the Arya Pratinidhi Sabhas of Delhi, Punjab and Haryana. However, the name of the person so elected is to be ratified in the meeting of the senate summoned by the registrar of the university.

Raj Singh Arya, the president of Delhi Arya Pratinidhi Sabha, told reporters here yesterday that after the expiry of the term of Sudarshan Sharma as chancellor, he had been duly elected the chancellor of the university in a meeting held in Delhi on Feb 09, 2006, with Delhi&Haryana Pratinidhi Sabhas voting in his favour&the Punjab Pratinidhi Sabha voting against him.

A meeting of the senate, called yesterday to consider the issue of the chancellorship, had to be postponed indefinitely due to ruckus in the meeting&outside the meeting. The district administration has deployed heavy police force to prevent violent clashes between the two warring groups.

The vice chancellor of the university, prof. Swatantra Kumar told UNI today that no meeting had ever been held to elect the chancellor of the university. "Till the new chancellor is duly elected&his election is ratified by the senate, the present chancellor will continue to function even after the expiry of his term", he said.

In the meantime the district administration is reportedly recommending to the state&the central govts to take over the control of the university management from the Arya Pratinidhi Sabhas. The S.S.P., Abhinav Kumar said that the occurring feuds in the management of the university are not only creating law&order problem but are also eroding the quality of education. However, reacting sharply to the recommendations of the district administration, the vice chancellor said that the Arya Samajis all over the country would oppose tooth&nail any move on the part of the govt to take over the university.

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