Centre dissolves Panjab University senate & syndicate, draws flak

CHANDIGARH: On Punjab Day, the Union govt effected a stunning change in Panjab University by dissolving the 59-year-old senate and syndicate - the two highest governing bodies - and restructuring them into fully nominated bodies.

The move triggered outrage among rival parties with Congress and AAP accusing the BJP-led Centre of 'dictatorial attitude'.

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann on Sunday termed the notification issued by the Centre to restructure Panjab University Senate and Syndicate and end elections in the governing bodies as "completely unconstitutional," and said state govt will not allow "this tyranny".

"Panjab University is our legacy, our heritage, and we will do whatever it takes to preserve it. If necessary, we will go to high court and Supreme Court. We are seeking legal advice. We will raise our voices at every level to ensure that Panjab University... remains a part of Punjab's heritage and legacy. Such an unconstitutional notification cannot take away our university's Senate or management," Mann said in a video statement.

The 142-year-old university will now operate under a new governance model that moves away from political representation to academic administration. For the first time, the Chandigarh MP, and Union Territory's chief secretary and education secretary have been made ex-officio members, along with senior Punjab officials.

According to a notification issued by the ministry of education, the reforms, enacted under Panjab University Act, 1947 (East Punjab Act 7 of 1947), abolish the graduate constituency and reduce the senate's strength from 90 to 31 members - 18 elected, six nominated, and seven ex-officio members. The university's executive authority will continue to rest with the syndicate, which has a completely new composition: vice-chancellor as chairperson, secretaries of higher education (GoI, Punjab, and UT) or their nominees. Punjab Congress president Amarinder Singh Raja Warring termed the move a "shameless attempt to saffronise" Panjab University. "It's a blatantly crude attempt by BJP and RSS to hijack a historic institution," Warring said.