Notification changing PU Senate, Syndicate structure a legal travesty, says Chandigarh MP

Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari today joined the student leaders, who are protesting against the decision of the Government of India to change the fundamental structure of the Senate and Syndicate, and the PU move to seek an affidavit. The affidavit, part of the admission process, seeks primarily to regulate and restrict student protests and demonstrations on the campus.

“The Tribune” was first to report the decision of the Centre to restructure the PU Senate and Syndicate, and transform the latter from an elected to a fully nominated body.

While supporting the agitating students, Tewari said the notification changing the fundamental structure of the Senate and Syndicate by invoking powers under Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act -1966 was patently illegal and a legal travesty. He said PU was constituted by the Punjab University Act -1947 passed by united Assembly, and only the Punjab Vidhan Sabha had the powers to amend the Act if the character of the two bodies had to be changed.

By a notification under Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act -1966, you cannot amend the Punjab University Act -1947. What has to be done directly cannot and should not be done indirectly.

Tewari also expressed solidarity with the students, especially general secretary of Panjab University Students Council Abhishek Dagar. Tewari said Dagar was on indefinite hunger strike against imposing the affidavit condition that seeks to stifle freedom of speech and expression on the campus. He said he was glad that the students were also against the illegal and unconstitutional restructuring of the PU bodies.

President of the Chandigarh Pradesh Congress Committee HS Lucky, who was accompanying Tewari, said PU was not merely an educational institution but a symbol of academic excellence and democratic participation. “By dissolving the Senate, the government has attempted to silence voices of dissent and weaken institutional independence. Such steps reflect the BJP-led government’s tendency to control autonomous institutions and impose its political agenda,” he said.