Patiala: The ongoing controversy over the destruction of error-filled copies of the historic Mahan Kosh deepened on Friday after the method of disposal was denounced as an act of “sacrilege.” In response, Punjabi University suspended two senior officials pending further review.
Vice-Chancellor Dr. Jagdeep Singh issued suspension letters to Harinder Pal Singh Kalra, In-charge of the Publication Bureau and Press, and Himender Bharti, Director of Forest & Wildlife Balance Restoration, citing negligence in the process. The orders remain subject to approval by the University Syndicate, which retains the authority to overturn the decision.
As part of atonement, the university shut down all colleges and departments for the day. An Akhand Paath Sahib began at the campus Gurdwara Sahib, with the Bhog ceremony scheduled for Monday.
Meanwhile, Sikh scholar Professor Harpal Singh Pannu strongly criticized the development in a WhatsApp group of intellectuals. He argued that the Vice-Chancellor himself shared responsibility and questioned whether “a guilty person can suspend his fellow guilty colleagues.” Known for avoiding social media, Prof. Pannu shares his opinions exclusively through WhatsApp, where his remarks quickly gained attention.
The controversy has placed the university administration under growing pressure, with the Syndicate’s upcoming decision expected to shape the next course of action.
