ABVP pushes for permanent Palampur agri varsity VC, flags key student issues
The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) unit of Himachal Pradesh Agricultural University (HPAU), Palampur, on Saturday submitted a memorandum to Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, urging the swift appointment of a permanent Vice-Chancellor. The post has been lying vacant for the past two years, affecting the academic and administrative functioning of the university.
In response, Governor Shukla assured the student delegation that the process of appointing a new VC is already underway and that the position would be filled soon.
The ABVP also highlighted a series of pressing concerns faced by the student community. Chief among them was the acute shortage of teaching and non-teaching staff. According to ABVP leaders, the lack of permanent leadership had hindered academic, research and extension activities at the institution. They stressed the urgency of filling up vacant faculty and administrative posts, many of which have remained unfilled as existing staff continue to retire.
Another major issue raised in the memorandum was the proposed transfer of 112 hectares of university land for a tourism development project. ABVP members expressed strong opposition to the move, arguing that the land is crucial for ongoing and future research and educational projects. They urged the government to reconsider its decision and withdraw its petition filed in the Supreme Court against the Himachal Pradesh High Court’s stay order on the land transfer. The student body asserted that university land should be reserved exclusively for academic and research purposes.
The memorandum further pointed out that while the number of students enrolled at the university continues to rise, the staff strength is steadily declining due to retirements and the near halt in recruitment. Citing recommendations from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR), the ABVP emphasised the need to urgently fill vacant posts to ensure that the university’s core functions are not compromised.
The Governor assured the delegation that their concerns would be communicated to the relevant authorities and appropriate action would be taken in the interest of the university and its students.
Himachal Tribune