November 2025

Restructure of the senate of the university

Centre to restructure the senate of Panjab University under section 72, Punjab Reorganization act, 1966, which gives the authority of inter state University.

Panjab University - Inter state body

“Punjab University is an ‘inter-state body corporate’ under the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, passed by Parliament, having participation from the states of Punjab, Haryana, and Himachal Pradesh"

MHA has powers under Punjab Reorganisation act 1966

The central government (MHA), in exercise of the powers conferred under Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, carried out an amendment dated 1.11.1966 in the Punjab University Act, 1947, thereby substituting the word ‘government of Punjab’ with ‘central government’.”

No illegality in the notice issued

Under the amendment, the notice issued is totally constitutional and no illegality in this.

Senate, top policy making body of the university

The senate is Panjab University’s top policy-making body, while the syndicate is its executive body, handling day-to-day administration.

Notice includes the following changes

Notification was issued by MHA, amending the panjab University act, 1947,

thereby limiting the members of the senate to 31, from currently 90,
abolished graduates constituency entirely
replaced elected syndicate with nominated structure
Change in the number of ex officio members from 5 to 7

Elected vs Nominated members

The earlier structure had 47 elected fellows from various categories, including the graduates’ constituency, as well as the nominated and ex officio members.
But now, elected representation has been limited, and the senate will have a combination of nominated and ex officio members.
new senate have no accountability as members are largely nominated

Change in the number of ex officio members

Earlier, there were only five ex officio members. Now, seven ex officio members will be in the senate—

Punjab CM,
Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, and
Punjab education minister, as earlier, along with the
The education secretary of Chandigarh (added newly)
the Chandigarh MP (added newly)
Two eminent alumni, two professors, two associate or assistant professors, four principals, six college teachers, and two MLAs will be nominated to the senate as the ordinary fellows by the Punjab assembly Speaker. Their four-year terms will require the approval of the Punjab University Chancellor.

Abolition of graduates constituency

! The most controversial change is the complete abolition of the graduates’ constituency.
In the previous 90-member senate, 47 fellows were elected, including 15 chosen by the university graduates who registered as senate voters.
Now, two eminent university alumni will be nominated by the Chancellor—the Vice President of India—in the case of Panjab University.

Reasons for the notice

The senate’s large size and election-oriented processes had often prioritised politics over academics.
The voters’ list was revised only every four years ahead of senate elections.”

Steps made before the notice

@ Became extremely difficult to carry out academic activities
2015 visit, the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) specifically observed that “governance structure, especially in terms of appointments of faculty deans, should be revisited”.
The Panjab University Teachers’ Association (PUTA) had also approached the then Union Home Minister, Shri Rajnath Singh, on 7 September 2016, urging governance reforms. Compared to central universities, IITs, IIMs, and state-run universities, Panjab University’s senate and syndicate are far more complex, time-consuming, and costly to institute.
The National Education Policy 2020 urges higher education institutions to reform governance to foster “a culture of excellence and innovation”, and the University Grants Commission has asked universities to implement relevant reforms.
in February 2021, then-Chancellor of Panjab University M. Venkaiah Naidu formed an 11-member governance reforms committee that conducted extensive consultations and suggested changes in line with the NEP 2020. “The committee submitted its report to the ministry, which further consulted the law department before making this amendment

Funding for the University

“In FY 2024-25, Rs 593.62 crore (86.78%) was released by the central government and Rs 90.49 crore (13.22%) by the Government of Punjab.
The internal revenue generation (IRG) of Panjab University was Rs 355.18 crore in FY 2024-25.” Print

Centre withdraws order

Political parties, Aam Aadmi party, Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal and student organisation had cornered the central government over the notification.
Days after, the Union Ministry of Education has decided to rescind the order.