Punjab must defend its stake in PU

THE phrase ‘governance reforms’ is being strategically used to demolish the democratic essence of a public university. The notifications (for governance structure reforms in Senate) dated October 28, 2025 and then November 4 issued regarding the reconstitution of the Senate of Panjab University and the withdrawal of the same on November 8 raise many concerns. They relate to the constitutional principles of federalism, the purview of the executive or administrative directions external to its provisions (in this case, the Ministry of Education) and the authority of the Senate in initiating reforms under Sections 19 and 20 of the Panjab University Act, 1947, erosion of the democratic structure and encroachment of the rights of Punjab.

It appears that the process and mechanism adopted are inconsistent with the statutory framework laid down under the Panjab University Act, 1947. The governance of Panjab University is explicitly and comprehensively defined under this Act. Sections 19 and 20 of the Act vest the Senate with powers to regulate, review and recommend reforms related to the university’s constitution and governance. The Senate is the supreme policymaking body. Any reform concerning the composition, representation or powers must be proposed and debated in the Senate, and then processed through the legislative or statutory route, as explicitly specified in the Act, and not through executive or administrative directions external to its provisions.

Panjab University functions as an inter-state institution under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966. Hence, any structural reform must be preceded by consultation with Punjab. Section 72(1) of the Reorganisation Act recognises PU as an inter-state institution in which Punjab retains an integral role. The said notification (now withdrawn), issued without consultation or concurrence of the Punjab Government, contravenes the cooperative federal mechanism envisaged in the Act.

The Government of Punjab in 2021, through the Directorate of Public Instruction (Colleges), stated before a high-level committee that “the reforms to be undertaken for better governance of the university should also be strictly as per existing statues and law and that no action is taken contrary to the statutes or against the interests of the State of Punjab."

Instead of changing rules as per law, the notification had reduced the representation of Punjab in the college teachers’ constituency (from 11 to 6), principals’ constituency (from 11 to 4) and abolished the graduate constituency (15 representing alumni to 0) and the faculties constituency (6 to 0).

The delay in announcing the Senate election for 2024 and the systemic restructuring of the Senate by reducing the representation of Punjab in the university’s governance framework and the Syndicate by replacing electoral processes with administrative nominations was a calculated attempt to reinforce the Centre’s claim to governance over the university, sidelining the representation and Punjab’s historic stake in PU.

The collective protest has also raised the faulty federal patterns, chronology and passive approach of the state government. The protest is being led by PU students; it should have been led by the Punjab CM. The government chose to concentrate on the “Tarn Taran elections" instead of addressing this issue. This protest reaffirms the power of democracy and raises issues beyond party lines.

Institutions historically anchored in Punjab’s sphere are being restructured into centrally governed bodies, reducing Punjab’s jurisdiction and representational power in Chandigarh. The political parties have largely failed to address these issues.

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