In a major turnaround, the Central government has withdrawn its notification dissolving the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University, effectively restoring both governing bodies and reversing its earlier decision that had sparked widespread outrage.
Effectively restoring the status quo of Panjab University’s governance, the Senate and Syndicate will continue to function under the previous democratic framework until further notice.
The withdrawal comes amid mounting criticism from the Punjab government, academic circles and student bodies, which had condemned the dissolution as unconstitutional and an assault on the university’s autonomy.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann had earlier on Wednesday termed the Centre’s notification as “unconstitutional and arbitrary”, announcing that the Punjab government would challenge the decision in the Punjab and Haryana High Court.
Stating that the government would form a panel of eminent and specialist lawyers of the country and fight against this act of high-handedness, Mann said that in the coming days, this issue would also be brought up in the Vidhan Sabha so that Punjab's position could be strengthened legislatively.
Mann criticised the Centre for restructuring Panjab University's governing bodies, terming the move "unconstitutional" and "dictatorial". He claimed that the Centre does not have the power to amend the Panjab University Act, 1947 through a notification. "Either the assembly can amend it or the matter has to be taken to Parliament," he said.
The now-withdrawn notification, issued by the Union Ministry of Education on November 1, ordered the dissolution of the 59-year-old Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University and approved a complete restructuring of the two top governing bodies, a move that replaced elected representation with a fully nominated governance model. Under the proposed changes, the Senate’s strength was to be reduced from 90 to 31 members, while the Syndicate was to be transformed into a body dominated by government nominees, ending decades of academic elections.
The notification cited provisions under the Panjab University Act, 1947 (East Punjab Act 7 of 1947) to justify the reform.
The restructured bodies would have included ex-officio members like the Chandigarh MP, UT Chief Secretary, Punjab Education Secretary and senior officials from the Centre and state, marking a shift from democratic representation to administrative control. These reforms were based on the recommendations of a 2021 high-level committee formed by then Vice President and PU Chancellor M. Venkaiah Naidu, which proposed reducing political interference and improving administrative efficiency.
The Centre’s move had triggered a storm of protest with critics warning that the decision could dilute Punjab’s stake in the university and disrupt its historical identity as an institution jointly administered by the State of Punjab and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
Political leaders, faculty associations and students across Punjab had united in opposing the decision, asserting that any structural change must have the state’s consent under existing arrangements between the Centre and Punjab.
Also read: Centre ends elected status of PU Senate, Syndicate
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