Centre's Axe on PU Democracy: Teachers slam "Anti-Punjab" takeover of historic Senate
Ferozepur, November 3, 2025: The Democratic Teachers' Front (DTF) Punjab has branded the Union Government's October 28 notification dissolving Panjab University's 59-year-old elected Senate and Syndicate as a "blatantly anti-Punjab decision" designed to erase the institution's unique democratic identity and hand full control to New Delhi.
For six decades, PU's governance rested on open elections: registered graduates, college teachers, principals and faculty chose representatives who shaped policy. That era ended overnight. The Senate has been slashed from 90 members to just 31—18 elected (only from limited academic circles), six nominated by the Chancellor, and seven ex-officio posts now packed with central appointees. The powerful Syndicate, once elected, is now 100 per cent nominated, chaired by the Vice-Chancellor and stuffed with the Union Higher Education Secretary, Chandigarh's Chief Secretary, Education Secretary, the city's MP, and Punjab bureaucrats.
DTF state president Vikram Dev Singh, general secretary Mahinder Kaurianwali, Finance Secretary Ashwani Awasthi and Ferozepur district president Malkeet Singh Haraj led a fiery press conference flanked by dozens of teachers. They charged that the move, executed under the National Education Policy-2020, is the latest salvo in a saffronising crusade: first Bhakra-Beas dams were snatched from Punjab's control, now its only namesake university is being stripped of Punjab's voice. "The Centre is systematically killing federalism, turning education into a tool for medieval mindsets where mythology masquerades as history," they declared.
The leaders hailed the ongoing struggle of PU's "Anti-Affidavit Front" students who refuse to sign undertakings pledging no protests—a condition imposed for hostel admission. "Forcing youth to surrender democratic rights at the gate, then abolishing the Senate that amplified their concerns, proves the Centre fears free thought," said Amit Kumar, Davinder Nath, Sarabjit Singh Bhawra, Sandeep Makhu and Raj Kumar Guru Harsahai.
They warned of broader fallout: ideological interference in syllabi, erasure of Punjab's linguistic and cultural imprint, and bureaucratic strangulation of academic freedom. "PU is not Delhi's real estate—it is Punjab's soul, built on the blood and sweat of generations," the DTF roared, urging every teachers' union, students' body and civil society group to flood the streets.
The DTF vowed relentless agitation until the notification is revoked and PU's democratic charter restored—warning that silence today will cost Punjab its tomorrow.
Present at the press meet were Gurwinder Singh Khosa, Swarn Singh Josan, Manoj Kumar, Narinder Singh Jammu, Amit Kamboj Guru Harsahai, Ankush Kumar, Jaidev, Baljinder Singh, Inder Singh, Sandeep Kumar, Ashwinder Singh Bararh, Lakhwinder Singh, Varinderpal Singh Khalsa, Heera Singh Toot, Anil Dhawan, Harjinder Singh Janer, Arvind Garg, Anmol Singh, Sumit Kumar, Raghav Kapoor, Bikramdev Uppal and Harmanpreet Singh Mutti.