Undemocratic: Mann slams overhaul of PU

A day after the Centre formally notified the dissolution and restructuring of Panjab University’s 59-year-old elected Senate and Syndicate, sharp opposition erupted across the state on Sunday, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann terming it “undemocratic”. The move has been opposed by all parties except the BJP.

The Tribune was the first to report this landmark decision on Saturday. Issued under the Panjab University Act, 1947, the Centre’s notification abolishes the Graduate constituency — the foundation of alumni representation — and reduces the Senate’s strength from 90 members to a body of 31, comprising 18 elected, six nominated and seven ex officio members. The Syndicate, the university’s highest executive body, has been converted into a fully nominated entity. The Chandigarh MP, the UT Chief Secretary and the Education Secretary have been included as ex officio members for the first time, alongside senior Punjab officials. Reacting to the move strongly, Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann said, “Panjab University represents the state’s emotional, cultural and literary legacy, with generations deeply connected to its democratic traditions. The sudden dissolution of the Senate, whose term ended October 31, and the planned shift from elections to nominations has sparked resentment among teachers, graduates and the academic community. Abolishing elected representation and moving to a fully nominated system is against the principles of governance and law, and diminishes the graduate electorate’s voice. This undemocratic move has united all parties and stakeholders except the BJP. The Centre must preserve the university’s autonomy and conduct elections according to statutes”.

The Centre has defended the overhaul as an overdue reform, citing a 2021 committee report aimed at depoliticising university governance and enhancing academic focus. However, opposition parties — AAP, the Congress and the SAD — and even the SGPC have decried the changes as illegal and an unconstitutional assault on Punjab’s rights and university autonomy, warning of legal and political challenges ahead.

Panjab University, established in Lahore in 1882 and reconstituted in Chandigarh in 1966, has historically operated with alumni, teachers and principals playing a key role in governance. The new centrally controlled structure marks a fundamental shift from democratic participation, raising fears of eroding Punjab’s educational identity and institutional autonomy.

The restructuring marks a new chapter that will define Panjab University’s future, one that has ignited political firestorms and vows of resistance from Punjab’s political and academic communities.

This radical overhaul announced on Punjab Day has already stirred an intense debate and opposition that promises to shape the university’s governance discourse for years to come.

Chandigarh