Fatehgarh Sahib (August 14, 2012) Shiromani Gurudwara Prabhandak Committee (SGPC) President Avtar Singh Makkar has appointed Dr. Gurmohan Singh Walia as Officiating Vice-chanceller of SGPC owned Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib. He was working as SGPC’s Director of Education.
It is notable that SGPC had appointed Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia as the vice-chancellor of the this University by ignoring strong opposition by various Sikh circles and Panthic bodies. JS Ahluwalia had a controversial background. He was removed from the post of VC of Punjabi University Patiala in 2002 in wake of serious charges he was facing at that time.
His removal from the VC-ship of SGPC’s university came as a surprise to many but the aftermath of his suspension made it clear that this was a result of his personal clash with SGPC head, AS Makkar.
Ahluwalia and Makkar have exchanged serious allegations against each other since the suspension of Ahluwalia and this episode has once again exposed the real state of internal affairs of SGPC and education institutions owned or managed by SGPC.
It is notable that Ahluwalia has moved Punjab and Haryana High Court against his suspension.
Makkar is reported to have said that as a case has been filed by suspended vice-chancellor Dr. Jasbir Singh Ahluwalia, it was legally not possible to have a vice-chancellor and as such Dr. Gurmohan Singh Walia has been appointed officiating vice-chancellor.
Meanwhile, Dr. Dharminder Singh Ubbha, principal of Khalsa College Patiala has been given additional charge as Director, Education, SGPC.