Gurugram: Haryana is gearing as much as renew its longstanding demand of the state’s share in Panjab College, Chandigarh, on the thirty second Northern Zonal Council Committee assembly to be held at Faridabad on 17 November.

The thirty second Northern Zonal Council, which incorporates Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories of Chandigarh, the Nationwide Capital Territory of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, was initially scheduled to fulfill on 11 September, however it was rescheduled for 17 November.

Within the thirty first Northern Zonal Council assembly held at Amritsar on 26 September 2023, 28 particular agenda gadgets, together with Haryana’s declare on Panjab College have been mentioned.

A number of the different agendas mentioned in that assembly have been interstate river water sharing, Bhakra Beas Administration Board, safety, legislation and order, prevention of cyber crime, fast-track particular courts for trial of offences underneath POCSO, and implementation of a number of central schemes.

What’s behind Haryana’s declare?

Established in 1882 in Lahore and relocated to Chandigarh in 1956, the Panjab College initially served undivided Punjab of which Haryana was additionally an element until 1966.

After Haryana was carved out as a separate state with the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966, the college’s jurisdiction initially prolonged to Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.

After the reorganisation, 60 % of the funding for the Panjab College got here from the Centre, whereas Punjab and Haryana have been collectively answerable for the 40 %.

Haryana ran its regional centres underneath the PU; and its schools have been affiliated to the college.

Nevertheless, Haryana’s involvement diminished over the a long time. Within the Nineteen Seventies, the state established its personal universities, successfully withdrawing from the PU.

In keeping with an anecdote typically narrated by Haryana politicians, at an occasion on the college in 1976, the then Haryana CM Bansi Lal was not accommodated on the dais, whereas the Punjab CM was. An enraged Bansi Lal stopped Haryana’s funding to the PU and affiliated Haryana schools to Kurukshetra College.

However regardless of this, Haryana has periodically sought to reclaim its share in PU, arguing that the college stays a shared asset underneath the 1966 Act.

Part 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, accessed by ThePrint, offers with normal provisions of statutory companies.

It says that the physique company constituted underneath the central act, the state act or provincial act for the prevailing State of Punjab, shall proceed to perform in these areas the place it was working earlier than the appointed day for the Act, topic to instructions by the Centre on occasion, till one other provision is made by legislation for the stated physique company.

Sub part 3 of the Part additional provides that for the removing of doubt “it’s hereby declared that the provisions of this part shall apply additionally to the Panjab College constituted underneath the Panjab College Act, 1947 (East Punjab Act 7 of 1947)….”

When did Haryana begin makes an attempt to reclaim its share?

After the BJP got here to energy in 2014, the then Panchkula BJP MLA Gian Chand Gupta wrote to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar in 2016, requesting him to reclaim Haryana’s share in Panjab College, and affiliation of faculties from Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Ambala districts with the PU.

The state authorities later requested the state’s schooling division to take up the matter with the PU and in addition with the Centre.

The matter was taken up within the Northern Council assembly held at Amritsar in September 2023 underneath Amit Shah by Haryana, which was strongly opposed by Punjab, which in 2022 handed a decision within the state meeting towards any change within the standing of the college.

Shah had advised the 2 states to resolve the matter amicably.

On Haryana’s half, Khattar had emphasised Haryana’s willingness to contribute financially with 20 per cent share, for the reason that college was passing via a monetary problem.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, nonetheless, rejected any sharing association.

After Shah’s assembly, the then Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit chaired a gathering attended by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.

Nevertheless, each CMs got here with contradictory statements after the assembly—Khattar exhibiting optimism saying some constructive steps have been taken in the direction of restoring Haryana’s share within the PU, whereas Mann dismissed Khattar’s declare fully.

There was no headway on this difficulty after that, and therefore the problem has been listed on the agenda as soon as once more.

Speaking to ThePrint on Monday, Gian Chand Gupta stated that he can be glad if his efforts bore fruit on the Northern Zonal Council assembly.

“We would like not simply affiliation of faculties from Panchkula, Yamunanagar, and Ambala to Panjab College, but additionally (admission for) share of kids from our state to Chandigarh schools,” he added.

Gupta stated that at current, 85 % of the seats in Chandigarh schools are crammed by college students who went to highschool in Chandigarh and solely 15 % have been crammed via the All-India quota.

“It’s ironical that regardless of Panchkula being a part of the tricity comprising Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali, our youngsters must undergo a really powerful competitors to get entry to Chandigarh schools,” stated Gupta.

(Edited by Viny Mishra)

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