Chandigarh, August 23, 2025 — The Panjab University Teachers Association (PUTA) is gearing up for a three-way contest in its annual elections scheduled for September 2. Incumbent president AS Naura of the biochemistry department will face off against Ashok Kumar of the Hindi department, with a third candidate, Parveen Goyal of the University Institute of Engineering and Technology, entering the race.
Naura, seeking a third consecutive term, is backed by Keshav Malhotra, recently elected unopposed as an executive member. “We have worked consistently for the betterment of teachers, ensuring release of arrears and completing numerous Career Advancement Scheme promotions,” Naura said, highlighting achievements under his leadership. He and his panel will contest largely unchanged from last year, with Tanzeer Kaur stepping in as joint secretary.
Parveen Goyal, a new entrant for the president post, is supported by the Navdeep Goyal group. Speaking about his priorities, he said, “I will focus on enhancing the retirement age for all teachers and resolving pending pension issues.”
Ashok Kumar, backed by the Sudhir Mehra group, contested the previous elections under the Teachers Voice United Forum banner but was unable to secure the president or general secretary seats. Mehra will contest this year as an executive member.
Observers note that some teachers are unhappy with the current leadership, describing PUTA as too aligned with the university administration in recent years. The entry of Goyal is seen as a response to such concerns, signaling a more independent voice in the elections.
This year’s polls mark a competitive shift from previous contests, with three distinct panels vying for leadership and aiming to shape PUTA’s priorities for the coming term.
