PAU board meeting postponed again, affecting university operations

The Punjab Agricultural University (PAU) has postponed its board meeting once again, marking the fifth time it has been delayed. The meeting was originally scheduled for Tuesday but was pushed back at the last minute due to a change in officials. Mandeep Singh Gill, president of the Punjab Agricultural University Teachers’ Association (PAUTA), expressed concern over the repeated postponements. He said it sets a bad precedent and complicates university operations. He emphasized the importance of holding regular meetings, as critical decisions are at stake. The university has not had a board meeting since July last year. According to Gill, this delay is unprecedented. The upcoming meeting is crucial for appointing new deans for various colleges and passing the university's budget before the financial year ends. Previous attempts to hold the meeting have also faced setbacks. After a pause of almost four months, the university tried to schedule a meeting for January but faced multiple postponements. On January 23, board members arrived at the meeting venue only to find out that it was canceled again. Vice-Chancellor Satbir Singh Gosal attributed the latest postponement to the busy schedule of the additional chief secretary. The board consists of 13 members, including administrative and finance officials, agricultural experts, and representatives from PAUTA.