Dr Malhi is due to retire on February 28, and while the university has shortlisted six candidates for his post, it has been learnt that no interview letters had been sent till the last week.

Sources say the university had short listed Dr H S Rawal, head, Department of Plant Pathology, Dr M S Gill, Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu both from the Indian Council of Agricultural Research in New Delhi, Dr J L Sharma, Department of Economics, Dr K S Sandhu head, Department of Soil and Dr Jagtar Singh Dhiman, additional director, Department of Communication an International Linkages.

They add that Dr Rawal, Dr Amrik Singh Sandhu and Dr M S Gill were being touted as the frontrunners for the post. Dr Rawal, meanwhile, was being touted as topping the list.

With Dr Malhi’s retirement approaching and the PAU heading for kissan melas in March, the post of DE cannot be left empty. The kissan melas, which are held across the state, are organised by the Director Extension. The PAU, however, does not even have an Additional Director Extension who could have handled the melas in absence of a regular DE. Dr Malhi said: “I have not applied for extension and till date, there is no indication of anything like this from the university. But then, it goes without saying that given a chance, I will continue to serve the institute with the same dedication as I have done till date.”