Chandigarh: The Central government’s move to restructure the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University (PU) has created a big controversy. Student bodies are protesting, and the political leadership of Punjab is condemning the move. Many are seeing it as a move directed at ending the claim of Punjab over Chandigarh.
A Drastic Overhaul:
On October 28, the Union Ministry of Education issued a notification amending the Panjab University Act, 1947. The changes were sweeping and aimed at fundamentally altering the university’s 59-year-old governance structure, which was unique for its significant elected representation.
Previous Structure: The PU Senate was a large, elected body with 91 members. Its unique feature was the “registered graduates’ constituency,” which allowed graduates of the university to elect 15 members (Fellows) to the Senate. The body also included elected representatives from university faculty, principals, and affiliated colleges, alongside nominated and ex-officio members. The Syndicate, the university’s principal executive body, was largely elected from the Senate.
New Proposed Structure: The October 28 notification proposed to:
- Abolish the Registered Graduates’ Constituency entirely, ending the right of alumni to vote in Senate elections.
- Reduce the Senate from 91 members to a much smaller body of 31 members (comprising 18 elected, 6 nominated, and 7 ex-officio).
- Reconstitute the Syndicate into a body dominated by government nominees and bureaucrats. The new structure included the Vice-Chancellor, the Union Higher Education Secretary, and the Education Secretaries of Punjab and Chandigarh, effectively replacing the elected faculty majority.
Opposition and Protests:
The notification immediately triggered a firestorm on campus and across the state. It merged with an ongoing student agitation against a university-mandated affidavit that required students to pledge not to participate in protests.
The protest was led by a broad coalition of student organizations, including the elected Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC). Various student bodies, often rallying under the banners of the ‘Panjab University Bachao Morcha’ and the ‘Anti-Affidavit Front’, joined forces.
Key participating student bodies included Sath, Ambedkar Students’ Association (ASA), Students For Society (SFS), All India Students Association (AISA), Democratic Students’ Front (DSF), National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Panjab Students Union (Lalkaar), Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) and Students’ Organisation of India (SOI).
The Reversal and a New Directive
Facing mounting pressure, the Central government took two significant actions on Wednesday, November 5.
Withdrawal of Notification First, the government issued an order revoking the October 28 notification. This was celebrated as a major victory by the protesting students and political parties. The PUCSC secretary ended his seven-day hunger strike following the announcement.
The ‘Fresh’ Notification However, later the same day, a second notification was issued. This “revised order” did not re-introduce the old structure but instead clarified the status of the amendments.
This new directive states that the amended Panjab University Act “shall have effect from the date, as appointed by the Central Government.”
In effect, the government has not cancelled the reforms but has put their implementation on hold indefinitely. The changes will now only take effect if and when the Centre issues another notification specifying a date.
This move is being seen by critics as a “tactical pause” rather than a complete withdrawal, leaving the future of Panjab University’s governance structure in a state of uncertainty.
10 November Call:
The protesting students
issued a call for a gathering at Panjab University on November 10, with the stated purpose of ‘protecting the Panjab University.’
Government of India’s Gazette Notification dated 4 November 2025 which withdraws earlier notification of 28 October 2025:
Government of India’s Gazette Notification dated 4 November 2025 which reintroduces changes to PU governance structure
