Gian Sagar Medical College management given a Friday deadline for revival Plan

Punjab: The Punjab and Haryana High Court has granted the new management of Gian Sagar Medical College an extension period till Friday to submit a revival action plan for the college. The extension period was granted by the court on Monday in response to a plea filed by 10 student petitioners of the college, demanding immediate resumption of classes.

The petitioners stated that they had been admitted to the college on the basis of the NEET merit/PMET merit in the academic session 2016-2017 . They said they had attended all the classes till January 2017. After which the entire faculty had gone on strike over the issue of non-payment of salaries

The direction for a revival plan was issued by a High Court Bench of Justice RK Jain following failure on the part of the college to submit a plan of revival and the court being told by the government that the new trustee, Varinder Kumar, was also unable to produce any evidence regarding the old trustees having resigned and new ones taking over.

“No resignation, no resolutions, no trust deed, etc was produced by the trustee,” Secretary, Medical Education and Research, Punjab, Vikas Pratap told the High Court reports HT. The stake holder meeting has been ordered by the High Court in order to break the deadlock. The college has remained is closed since February 1.

The government also conceded ignorance on the part of the new trustee regarding the present liabilities and stated that he merely claimed that all problems would be resolved within six months. The new trustee is also unaware of deficiencies pointed out in the show-cause notice, served by the Department of Medical Education , as well as the de-affiliation notice served by the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot stated the government. He also has little idea on the future plans that the management has for the college, Pratap told the court.

With the faculty refusing piece meal payments, the government is trying its level best to resolve all issues at the earliest, he added.

Varinder Kumar, the new trustee was however, forthcoming on two trustees — Dilbag Singh and Paramjit Kaur — having resigned; and the membership of Dr Sukhwinder Singh and Sukhwinder Kaur having been terminated

Mr. Kumar gave three new names –those of Sahib Singh, Ravinder Kumar and Mohit Gawri as the three new appointee trustees, besides his own name, to the court.

The court was also told that Rs 30 crore was required for salaries, electricity bill and other government dues. The new trust, the court was informed was ready to infuse Rs 10 crore every month, till all liabilities are cleared. Rs 30 lakh had already been paid during the last week, was information revealed to the court.

The trust is also in talks with employees for clearing their dues in instalments, the court was told. About objections raised by the government, an assurance of these being removed was also given to the court. In view of the statements, from both the sides, the court has now given time till Friday to the management to submit the revival plan. The court has asked to be furnished details about the running of the medical college in the past and requisite documents about takeover- by the new trustees.