Thapar University restores 50 pc quota for Punjab students

Updated on: Monday, May 07, 2012

The deemed Thapar University, Patiala, decided to restore the 50 per cent territorial quota for the students of the state after intervention of the Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal.

Badal had asked the university authorities to reconsider their decision.

J S Neerav, vice chairman of the varsity's Governing Board and Abhijit Mukherjee, Director of the Thapar University, conveyed their decision by handing over their letter to S S Channy, Principal Secretary Technical Education and Industrial Training, Punjab.

The University Board in its 100th meeting held on February 24 this year to consider the admissions to first year of under graduate programme made the seats available to all the citizens of India maintaining that the admissions would be opened equally to all citizens of the country and 50 per cent territorial quota for the students of Punjab would not be available any longer.

Badal had also taken up the matter with Union HRD Minister Kapil Sibal while highlighting the claim of the State of Punjab and its students saying that the university has come up in the present shape and stature solely on account of the state help which was there by way of giving them 250 acre of land and also grant-in-aid till the year 2001.

The university in its letter maintained that "in deference to the wishes of the state government and without going into the legality of the same, the varsity agrees not to implement its decision taken over two months back."

According to a spokesperson of the Chief Minister's Office here, the issue will once again be taken up in the next meeting of the Board after mutual discussions in accordance with the rules of the university, the letter mentioned.

Both the Centre and the varsity management were conveyed the rights of the state for this deemed University and "advised as well as directed them not to deny the rights of the Punjab students to have the opportunity for the furtherance of their education in one of the State promoted deemed University of excellence", the spokesperson said.

The deemed Thapar University, Patiala started functioning way back in 1956.

The spokesperson said 250 acres of land was given to the university and financial assistance of Rs 30 lakhs was also given by the then state government.

Thapar University restores 50 pc quota for Punjab students

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