Despite the V-C getting a green signal from the PAU Board of Management to go ahead with the interviews on December 23, on Friday morning PAUTA pasted posters across the campus expressing disagreement with the decision.

A poster states “Interviews for the Heads of Departments — In the interest of the university or hypocrisy?...PAUTA is well aware of these unfortunate developments and will give a befitting reply to such double standards in the coming times, with the support of the faculty”.

Another poster compares the credentials of the seven aspirants for the post of Assistant Director of Research (ADR) and claims that the least eligible candidate — Dr Harjit Singh — was appointed in absentia. “Generally, a man of unmatched credentials and who is likely to be a great asset to the university is selected in absentia,” stated the PAUTA poster.

PAUTA general secretary Dr Mukesh Siag said: “Through the posters, we want to convey to the faculty what the ground reality is.”

A member of the PAU Board of Management, Avtar Singh Dhindsa, said: “I am all for interviews of heads of departments. Call them interviews or group discussions, people should throw up ideas on what they plan for their department.”