PU senate okays budget

PATNA: Amid noisy protests by representatives of different students organisations against inordinate delay in the conduct of university students'
union elections, the Patna University (PU) senate on Saturday approved a Rs 94.27-crore deficit budget for the next financial year (2009-10).

The budget would now be sent to the state government for its approval.

While the senate, at its annual meeting held here at Wheeler Senate House under the chairmanship of vice-chancellor Shyam Lal, discussed the budget and other academic and administrative matters, students staged demonstrations and shouted slogans outside in support of their demands, including elections to the university students' unions which have not been held for the last 24 years. When they tried to disturb the meeting, the police allegedly resorted to mild lathicharge to chase them away.

Inside, the senators raised much hue and cry over the issue of the grant of minority status to Patna Women's College (PWC), a constituent unit of PU. As soon as Ramdeo Rai, MLA, demanded from the VC a copy of the government letter notifying grant of minority status to PWC, Tarakant Jha, MLC, and Kishore Kumar Munna, MLA, wanted to know whether the PU Act provided for a minority institution under its jurisdiction. Citing a recent judgement of the Supreme Court, Jha pointed out PU cannot interfere with the working of PWC if it indeed is a minority institution. Munna demanded transfer of the present PWC principal as per provisions of the changed status as she had completed the five-year term.

Presenting the annual budget, pro-VC S I Ahson pointed out that the estimated expenditure of the university during the next financial year would be to the tune of Rs 122 crore against an estimated income of Rs 27.73 crore. The estimated expenses include Rs 51.81 crore (pay and allowances, including pension), Rs 27.24 crore (contingencies and provisions), Rs 9.50 crore (post-retiral dues) and Rs 33.43 crore (outstanding dues). A special provision of Rs 6.05 crore has been made for repair and maintenance of PU buildings, Ahson added.

Earlier, Jitendra Sahay presented the annual report. The senate approved regulations and ordinances of new courses like MA in music, MCA, PG diploma in bio-informatics, MA in journalism and mass communications. New modalities for an entrance test for the MEd course were also approved.

Source : Times of India