PU students to continue stir, insist on Senate poll

Students of Panjab University tonight hailed the Union Ministry of Education’s late-evening notification withdrawing the controversial restructuring of the university’s Senate and Syndicate, calling it a “major moral victory” for Punjab. However, the protesting groups refused to lift their indefinite dharna, saying their stir will continue until the elections for the original 91-member Senate are formally announced.

The development came exactly a week after The Tribune first broke the story exposing the Centre’s October 30 notification that had overhauled PU’s governance — trimming Senate structure, slashing its strength from 91 to 31, and converting the Syndicate into a fully nominated body. The Centre’s move had triggered a statewide political storm and relentless student protests that drew cross-party support.

The ministry’s fresh notification —fourth since October 30 — rescinds the earlier November 4 order that had only “put on hold” the restructuring.

In a late evening statement, the Union Ministry of Education said it had "accepted the demand of the students" and confirmed that "no change in the Senate of Panjab University" would be made.

The ministry said the decision followed consultations with students, teachers, former Vice-Chancellors and the current VC, and a review of feedback received after the October 30 notification. It added that, "having regard to the above, it has now been decided that the notification changing the constitution and composition of the Senate and Syndicate shall stand withdrawn."

Student leaders under the Panjab University Bachao Morcha hailed it as “people’s pressure forcing Delhi to step back.” Avtar Singh of SOPU said, “This is a big step forward, but our fight will continue till Senate elections are announced.”

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann welcomed the rollback, calling it “a victory for Punjab’s pride,” while Congress MP Manish Tewari said the Centre’s retreat vindicated the protesters’ stand. Congress leader Ravneet Singh Bittu said the decision reflected “Delhi’s realisation that we care for Punjab’s rights.”

‘Do-or-die’ stir

After The Tribune exposé forced Delhi to hit pause on the Panjab University overhaul, students escalated protests and political heavyweights joined chorus for full rollback.

Earlier in the day, campus tempers continued to flare as students of Panjab University launched an indefinite dharna under the banner of “Panjab University Bachao Morcha”, rejecting the Centre’s “temporary halt” on the university’s controversial restructuring and demanding nothing short of a complete withdrawal of the October 30 notification.

The agitation — now rebranded as the “Save Senate, Save PU” movement — has gathered momentum, with students vowing a “do or die” battle and calling a massive show of strength on November 10.

The Tribune report set off a political storm across Punjab and Chandigarh, forcing the Union Ministry of Education to issue two fresh notifications on November 4 — rescinding the October 30 order but keeping the overhaul intact, merely deferring its implementation “to a date appointed by the Central Government.”

Students, however, had dismissed the move as a “pause, not a rollback,” accusing the government of buying time. Scores of protesters, backed by multiple student bodies — AAP’s ASAP, Congress’ NSUI, SAD’s SOI, Left’s PSU Lalkaar, SFS, AISA, and campus unions including SOPU, Student Front and Sath — occupied the campus lawns, chanting slogans and vowing to “revive democracy” in the university’s functioning.

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) MP and former Union Minister Harsimrat Kaur Badal, visited the dharna site, termed the Centre’s notification “an attempt to end democracy in Panjab University and irreversibly dilute Punjab’s control.” She said, “Punjabis were not even consulted before taking this step.” SAD leaders confirmed that party chief Sukhbir Singh Badal and the Youth Akali Dal would join the upcoming protest.

Joining the chorus, SGPC president Harjinder Singh Dhami also met student leaders and declared full SGPC participation in the November 10 gathering. “This is an attack on Punjab’s identity and its academic heritage,” he said, adding that the Committee would extend full logistical support to the students. “Every Punjabi must stand with this struggle,” he urged.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, speaking in Amritsar, accused the BJP-led Centre of “deliberately targeting Punjab” by dissolving PU’s elected bodies. “This is a direct assault on Punjab’s rights and heritage,” he said. Meanwhile, ruling AAP MPs Malvinder Singh Kang and Meet Hayer faced angry students during a visit to the campus on Wednesday evening. They were cornered by student leader Sarah from PSU (Lalkaar) and others, accused of doing “too little, too late,” and forced to leave after tempers flared despite pledges of support.

Congress veteran and former Union Minister Pawan Kumar Bansal had questioned the legality of the Centre’s move, saying Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, was a one-time transitional provision that couldn’t be invoked to alter a state law after nearly six decades. “To use it now to amend or omit sections of the Panjab University Act, 1947, is constitutionally untenable,” Bansal had stated.

Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, who met Vice-President CP Radhakrishnan on Wednesday, had also reiterated that the Centre must “rescind the notification altogether” and initiate fresh consultations with stakeholders. “Any amendments must be through the Punjab Assembly, not through executive overreach under Section 72,” he said.

The BJP, however, welcomed the Centre’s decision to “withdraw changes made in the Senate and Syndicate,” hailing it as “a step in line with the sentiments of Punjabis.” Party leaders and veteran academicians, including former MP and long-time Senator Satya Pal Jain and former Vice-Chancellors KN Pathak and Arun Grover, had defended the original reform as necessary to curb campus factionalism and professionalise governance.

WHAT IT MEANS

The Centre’s withdrawal restores PU’s pre-October 30 structure, reviving the elected Senate and Syndicate system. However, without a fresh election notification, the university remains in limbo, fuelling the students’ demand for immediate Senate polls. The issue has evolved from a campus agitation into a broader assertion of Punjab’s academic and constitutional autonomy.