An affidavit filed before the Punjab and Haryana High Court states has cast a shadow on the educational qualifications of Gurinder Pal Singh Bath, the state’s Secretary of the Punjab School Education Board (PSEB).
According to the affidavit filed by Anjali Bhawra, Principal Secretary, Education, Punjab, the MTech degree of PSEB secretary Gurinder Pal Singh Bath is “not valid and admissible”. The affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by Malwinder Singh, a social studies master, challenging the appointment of Bath as PSEB secretary, on the grounds that his MTech degree acquired through distance mode was not valid.
Bhawra informed the court that the state government had directed the education board to reconsider Bath’s appointment, and file amended reply before the HC after taking action. In her affidavit, Bhawra stated, “On the basis of correspondence with the All India Council for Technical Education, Punjab Technical Education, and University Grants Commission, the government observed that the MTech degree obtained by Gurinder Pal Singh, as a bonafide student from Aggarwal College, Mohali, through distance education mode from Karnataka State Open University, is not valid and admissible.”
Bhawra submitted, “The state government on August 25 also issued instructions to the PSEB to reconsider his appointment to the post of secretary, PSEB, and to file an amended reply before the HC after taking necessary action.” The petition now comes up for hearing on September 29.
