Chandigarh, Nov. 5 — The Punjabi Cultural Council (PCC) has strongly condemned the central government’s recent notification that rendered the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University ineffective, calling it a “deeply objectionable and deliberate attempt” to weaken Punjab’s hold over the 142-year-old institution.
Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, president of the council and State Award recipient, said the move has hurt the pride of Punjabis associated with the university. “The democratic structure must be restored immediately, and fresh elections held for the Senate and Syndicate to ensure that teachers, students, and other stakeholders have their voices heard,” he said.
Since its establishment in Lahore in 1882, Panjab University has stood as a symbol of Punjab’s intellectual, scientific, and cultural identity. Grewal likened the timing of the central government’s notification to November 1, 1966, when Punjab was bifurcated and Chandigarh separated as a union territory, arguing that the latest action similarly diminishes the state’s authority.
“By abolishing a 59-year-old democratic setup and replacing elected representatives with nominated ones, the Centre has not only disrupted tradition but also stripped Punjabis of their democratic rights,” Grewal said.
He criticized the decision to include Chandigarh’s MP, Chief Secretary, and Education Secretary as ex-officio members, stating that it treats Punjab’s capital as an external stakeholder. “This ensures that arbitrary decisions cannot be questioned,” he added.
Grewal described the move as part of a pattern of “systematic disempowerment” affecting Punjab, citing loss of control over the capital, river waters, and headworks. He urged political parties, social organisations, teachers, and student bodies to unite in demanding the immediate restoration of the Senate and Syndicate, calling it essential to safeguard Punjab’s academic dignity and democratic governance.
