Political row erupts in Punjab over Centre’s move to scrap PU senate

The Centre’s decision to restructure Panjab University’s governing bodies by replacing the elected Senate and Syndicate with nominated members has triggered widespread political outrage in Punjab, with several parties alleging that the move is a direct assault on the state’s constitutional authority and academic autonomy.

Terming the decision “unprecedented and undemocratic,” the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) accused the Central government of attempting to hijack a historic institution that has functioned under a democratic framework for over six decades. AAP Lok Sabha MP Dr Raj Kumar Chabbewal said the decision “tramples on Punjab’s hard-earned autonomy and constitutional rights.”

“This reckless move by the Centre is a blatant assault on the very soul of Punjab. The people elected their representatives in the last Senate elections, but since the BJP failed to gain confidence at the ballot box, it now wants to handpick its favourites and convert the university into a political playground,” Chabbewal said. He added that the Punjab government would explore all legal and constitutional avenues to challenge what he termed an attempt to “silence dissent and erode the state’s rights.”

Former Minister Joginder Singh Maan, Daljit Raju and AAP spokesperson Harji Maan echoed these concerns, alleging that the Centre was pursuing a politically motivated agenda. “Scrapping the Senate and Syndicate and replacing them with nominated members is a crude attempt by the BJP and RSS to hijack a historic institution of the country and saffronise it,” they said.

Phagwara MLA Balwinder Singh Dhaliwal questioned Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann’s silence on the issue, warning that the move could have serious legal and constitutional ramifications. Calling the Centre’s decision “patently illegal and a legal travesty,” he argued that only the Punjab Vidhan Sabha has the power to amend the Panjab University Act of 1947. “What has to be done directly cannot and should not be done indirectly,” Dhaliwal stated, adding that any attempt to bypass constitutional procedure would be strongly resisted.

The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) also joined the chorus of criticism. Party leader Ranjit Singh Khurana said the decision reflected a pattern of diluting Punjab’s rights. “Whether it is the contentious issue of Chandigarh, river waters, the Bhakra Beas Management Board, or now Panjab University—the Centre has been consistently undermining Punjab’s authority and interests,” he remarked.

While the Centre has yet to issue a detailed clarification on the rationale behind the restructuring, the announcement has reignited debates over Punjab’s jurisdiction and administrative rights over Panjab University—an institution historically rooted in the state’s academic and cultural identity. With political temperatures rising, legal experts anticipate a protracted battle, as opposition parties prepare to challenge the move in courts and on public platforms.