Chandigarh: Amid widespread students' protest and backlash by political parties in Punjab, the Union government's proposed overhaul of Panjab University's governance structure – which was seen as weakening the internal democratic system of the campus – was withdrawn last week. 

The issue has, however, triggered a fresh wave of protests on the campus with students now demanding full restoration and protection of the university's democratic decision making bodies including senate and syndicate-bodies which remain non-functional since early 2024. 

The students’ ongoing stir, believed to be one of the largest in the university’s history, has finally compelled the authorities to initiate the senate election process by forwarding a draft schedule to the vice-president and Panjab University chancellor C.P. Radhakrishnan for approval.

However, the students have dismissed the move as too little, too late. They insist that their agitation will continue until a formal notification is issued by the Centre and officially published by Panjab University. 

Students also alleged that there have been repeated attempts by the Union government to curtail the democratic autonomy of the university, which will no longer be tolerated. 

The situation on campus remains calm for now, though tensions had flared two days earlier on Monday (November 10) when security forces and students came face-to-face.

Emboldened by the massive “PU Bandh” that day – supported by farmers, political leaders, Nihang groups, and civil society organisations that broke through police barricades to join them – the students appear more resolute than ever in their demand for the restoration of democratic functioning at the university. 

National Students' Union of India (NSUI) student leader Archit Garg told The Wire that this fight is not just about senate or syndicate elections – it’s about reclaiming the soul of Panjab University. 

"When the senate is silenced, the students, teachers, and alumni are silenced too," he said adding, "The senate is not a privilege – it’s a right earned through decades of struggle and service. And we, the students of this university, will continue this struggle until the senate elections are restored and the democratic structure of Panjab University stands tall again." 

'Save PU' chorus 

The ‘Save Panjab University’ chorus is no longer confined within the campus walls.

It has now spread across Punjab, with panchayats passing resolutions, political parties openly criticising the Bharatiya Janata Party-led (BJP-led) Centre’s repeated assaults on democratic institutions, and civil society organisations including farmers’ groups extending their full support to the movement.

For people of Punjab, the Panjab University is not just an educational institute; it is considered the living spirit of their history and identity.

Born in undivided Punjab in Lahore in 1882, then only the fourth such institute in the country, the university was re-established in Chandigarh after 1947 partition, in order to symbolise the continuity of Punjab's cultural and intellectual legacy.

That connection grew stronger after nearly 200 colleges in Punjab got university's affiliation over the years. Moreover, the faculty, students, and alumni from these colleges participated directly in the governance process of the university through senate and syndicate elections. 

However, the centre's latest overhaul, now stand withdrawn, had sought to reduce the number of senate members, from 97 to 31, abolish elections to the syndicate, and scrap the registered graduate constituency, a unique feature of Panjab University’s democratic governance model.

Political controversy

The issue has snowballed into a political row as it is being seen as not just an attack on the university's democratic autonomy but as erosion of the state's federal rights as well as dilution of Punjab's claim over Chandigarh, where the campus currently resides. 

Therefore, it was not surprising to see Punjab's political heavyweights including leader of opposition Partap Bajwa, former Punjab chief minister Charanjit Singh Channi, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader Harsimrat Kaur Badal, and others visiting the campus to support the students' demand.

Punjab chief minister Bhagwant Mann accused the BJP of launching a continuous assault on Punjab’s autonomy, and the Congress and the SAD labelling it as a direct attack on federalism and the erosion of the university's 143 years of legacy.

The issue has put the BJP on the back foot, just months after its student wing, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), secured its first victory in the university students’ union elections in September. That win had revived the saffron party’s hopes of improving its performance in the assembly elections scheduled for February 2027.

Punjab BJP leaders are trying to cover up the issue by maintaining that the students’ demands for the withdrawal of notification have already been met.

Punjab acting BJP chief Ashwani Sharma told media persons that it was the state BJP leaders which took up their concerns with the central leadership. "I had specifically gone to Delhi for this. We should think of Punjab’s development and not stoke emotions. Punjab has had enough turmoil in the past. The environment must be peaceful here now," he  said.

Commenting on the ongoing crisis in Panjab University and subsequent political row in Punjab, political analyst Harjeshwar Singh told The Wire that people of Punjab deeply cherish their identity and cultural heritage and any attempt to infringe upon it is met with strong resistance. 

"The ongoing Panjab University crisis reflects that deep bond and that is why people from all walks of life are supporting the university students," he added. 

Another political analyst Pramod Kumar told The Wire that the reforms in the Panjab University governing system were long pending. But the changes introduced by the Centre were not required either since it attempted to impose constitutional authoritarianism, taking away democratic rights of stakeholders involved.

Moreover, anything associated with Chandigarh becomes an emotive issue, given Punjab's long pending claim over the city, which was set up as state capital after 1947 partition but later shared as Punjab and Haryana's joint capital following Punjab's reorganisation in 1966, he added.

Students demand

Apart from demanding early restoration of senate and syndicate, PU Bachao Morcha – joint forum of all students political parties in Punjab which are at the forefront of ongoing students' stir – released a four-point demand charter on Tuesday (November 11). 

The students demanded that the vice-chancellor must provide a written assurance that no new policy decisions will be taken during the ongoing senate election process, and that all previous controversial decisions will be reviewed by the newly elected senate for appropriate action.

The students also demanded that the university must withdraw all the pending disciplinary or legal cases against students related to the previous senate election protest and other demonstrations. Last year, as many as 14 students were booked following clashes between student agitators and security forces.

Moreover, the students demanded that the university authorities withdraw their attempts to curtail the functioning of the Panjab University Students’ Council, an elected student body.

Lastly, they also want assurance from the university that no recruitment process will take place without strictly following  reservation policy.

While PU Bachao Morcha remains hopeful that these demands and the immediate declaration of the senate election schedule will be addressed promptly, it also warned that any further delay or negligence by the Union government or PU authorities will not be tolerated.

If attempts continue to suppress or delay democratic functioning, the Morcha will ensure that no administrative or examination process continues normally within the campus, read their statement released on Tuesday (November 11).

Meanwhile, the Morcha reiterated its commitment to a peaceful yet determined struggle for the restoration of democracy and autonomy in Panjab University and called upon all the sections of society to continue their support. 

The Morcha members said that they remain united, with preparations underway to further strengthen and expand the movement. The vice-chancellor extended an invitation to the representatives of the morcha, during which a charter of demands was formally submitted to the university authorities, the statement read.

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