Photo Source: Babushahi Bureau
SAD urges Vice President and PU Chancellor to withdraw ‘Anti-Punjab’ notification
Says Punjabis felt their rights were being diluted one after the other
Babushahi Bureau
Chandigarh, November 1 , 2025- The Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) today urged vice president and Panjab Univeristy’s ex- officio Chancellor C P Radhakrishnan to withdraw the notification changing the fundamental character of the institution by ending elections to it’s Syndicate to make it a fully nominated body and packing the Senate with nominated and ex-officio members to dilute Punjab’s control over the prestigious institution.
In a letter to the varsity’s Chancellor, senior SAD leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal appealed to the varsity’s chancellor not to change the democratic character of the University and hold elections to it’s Syndicate besides ensuring the rights of Punjab were not compromised.
Harsimrat Badal said the notification had virtually made the Syndicate and Senate of the Panjab University rubber stamps of the central government. She said the decision had caused consternation among Punjabis who felt the Panjab Univeristy, which was first established in Lahore in 1882, was part of their shared heritage. She said Punjabis felt that their rights were being diluted one after the other.
This decision comes after the dilution of the State’s rights over its capital - Chandigarh, River waters, management of Bhakra Beas Management Board (BBMB) and even its right over its religious institutions. Moreover the fact that it has been taken on Punjab Day is even more galling to Punjabis worldwide”, Mrs Badal informed the Chancellor.
The Bathinda MP also disclosed that the decision had been taken arbitrarily without consulting the stakeholders. “The majority of Colleges affiliated with the University are from Punjab. The State also funds 60 per cent of the institution’s budget. The decision is also against the spirit of federalism”.
Badal said the notification aimed at changing the fundamental character of the institution as per the 1966 Punjab Reorganization Act to a virtual central university. “Being an inter- State body the power to amend the Panjab University Act-1947 is entrusted with the Punjab Vidhan Sabha. However a central notification under Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act -1966 is being used to amend the University Act”, she said.
Badal said Panjab Univeristy’s uniqueness lay in its democratic decision making bodies including the Senate which had a Graduates constituency which allowed the alumni of the University to have a role in its management.
“Slowly and steadily the central government has undermined the independence of the education institution. First elections to the Syndicate were postponed indefinitely. Now the Syndicate itself has been dissolved and will now be a nominated house under central government control”. EOM. Jangveer Singh.