CM asks Thapr Management to strictly comply with 50 % quota for Punjabi students

by Punjabnewswire4u (Balbir)

CHANDIGARH, JULY 24

            Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today categorically asked the Management of Thapar University to continue with the existing norms to provide 50% quota for students hailing from Punjab and any departure from these rules would not be tolerated at any cost.

            This decision was taken by Mr Badal during a high level meeting with the members of the Board of Governors (BOG) of  Thapar Educational Trust here at the Chief Minister’s Office.

            The Chief Minister said that there was any hardly need for negotiating the already settled issue as the Thapar institute was bound to abide by the stipulated rules on provision of 50% quota to the students of state. Mr Badal in unequivocal terms said that the abolition of quota by Thapar University would tantamount to betrayal with Punjab which would be never ever be accepted by state government and the people of Punjab as they along with the government had already opposed this move tooth and nail to retain this quota.

The Chief Minister further said that it was the sheer magnanimity on the part of the state government to provide 250 acre of land coupled with financial assistance worth Rs 30 lakh for the establishment of the prestigious Thapar institution way back in 1956 that was instrumental in attaining the Category “A” status for it as on today besides getting uninterrupted grant-in-aid till the year 2001. The present value of this prime 250 acre of land is around Rs 1500 crore, added the Chief Minister. However Mr Badal lamented that the quota for the students of the state which was once 90% in the institutions has been drastically tapered off to a meager 50%, which was complete injustice to students of the state.

On the apprehensions of the representatives of the University that continuing of 50% quota was resulting into poor quality of stuff getting admissions in the institution, the Chief Minister asked them to start 10+2 classes and special coaching classes for the Punjabi students to act as a nursery to attract the best talent in their institution by improving the standard of their education.  

Prominent amongst those present on the occasion included Technical Education Minister Mr Anil Joshi, Chief Secretary Mr Rakesh Singh, Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr SK Sandhu, Principal Secretary Industries Mr SS Channi, Special Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister Mr KJS Cheema, Secretary Expenditure Mr Dalip Kumar, Chairman Board of Governors (BOG) Thapar Educational Trust Mr SM Trehan, Vice Chairman Mr JS Neerav and Head Corporate Affairs Mr Anil Bhargava.