Punjab Governor turns down appointment of Dr GS Wander as new BFUHS Vice Chancellor
Punjab: Days after the announcement of the name of cardiologist Dr Gurpreet Singh Wander as the new Vice Chancellor of Baba Farid University of Health Sciences (BFUHS), Faridkot, Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit who is the chancellor of the university has refused to approve the AAP government's pick. Instead, he has asked the state government to send a list of three names for the post.
The Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann had recently taken to Twitter to make the announcement.
The fresh development came days after Governor Purohit had taken an exception to Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann skipping a reception held in the honour of President Droupadi Murmu, who was on her maiden visit to Chandigarh.
Mann, while interacting with reporters on the sidelines of a meeting here on Tuesday, was asked if it is becoming "AAP government versus the Governor" on many issues. He replied by saying that there are no differences between the state government and Purohit.
He said the Punjab government is fighting a battle against inflation, unemployment, corruption and mafia, and added that it has cordial ties with the Governor.
"There are no issues with the Punjab Governor. We respect him," he said.
When asked that the Governor has refused to approve the state government's choice for the VC's post, Mann said if he has desired, the state government will send a panel of three names for appointment. He, however, said the tradition is that the Governor gives consent to the name proposed by the government.
In August, CM Mann had accepted the resignation of Dr Raj Bahadur, who had quit from the post after being "humiliated" at the hands of Health Minister Chetan Singh Jouramajra.
In July, Jouramajra had come under fire from several quarters after he was seen forcing Dr. Bahadur to lie on a dirty mattress at a hospital.
Prior to this, there had been a squabble between the Governor and AAP government over holding a session of the Punjab Assembly.
The Governor had withdrawn the permission to hold a special session on September 22 after seeking legal opinion when the AAP government wanted to bring a confidence motion only in the House.
Later, the Governor gave his nod only after the government provided details of the legislative business.
Also Read:AAP Govt defends Punjab minister action of humiliating BFUHS Vice Chancellor
