Change in leadership at Dhankhar sparks a series of events in Chandigarh, as Panjab University prepares to select its top governing body.
The election for the Panjab University (PU) senate has been delayed due to the requirement of approval from the Vice-President of India, who serves as the university's chancellor. The term of the PU senate ended on October 31, 2024, and since then, the university has been functioning without an elected senate.
Over the past eight months, the university has submitted a tentative election schedule multiple times, yet the required approval has not been granted. The delay has deepened following the sudden resignation of Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, leaving the position vacant and the PU chancellorship uncertain.
Without a new Vice-President, the election schedule cannot be approved, causing further postponement. The absence of an elected senate has led to key powers being temporarily delegated to the vice-chancellor and other officials, who are making decisions within a limited scope compared to what an active senate would handle. This situation could potentially impede robust governance and decision-making at Panjab University.
Protesters, including Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, and AAP's MP from Anandpur Sahib and former PU student council president Malvinder Singh Kang, have met to voice their concerns. The first protest for the senate was held in October and has grown into 'Senate Bachao Morcha' and 'PU Bachao Morcha'.
If a new Vice-President fails to approve the election schedule, protests could take place. Former senator IS Sidhu has stated that protests could occur if the new Vice-President does not approve the elections. The matter has also been taken up in the Punjab and Haryana high court.
[1] Source: Times of India [3] Source: Hindustan Times
- The Panjab University (PU) senate elections have been delayed, as the Vice-President of India, the university's chancellor, needs to approve the election schedule.
- The absence of a new Vice-President in India has caused the election schedule to be further postponed, leading to temporary delegation of key powers to the vice-chancellor and other officials.
- Protests, including 'Senate Bachao Morcha' and 'PU Bachao Morcha', have been started and led by Punjab assembly speaker Kultar Singh Sandhwan, Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari, and AAP's MP Malvinder Singh Kang.
- If a new Vice-President fails to approve the election schedule, it could lead to increased protests from students and politicians, as warned by former senator IS Sidhu, and the matter has already been taken to the Punjab and Haryana high court.
