Central Govt’s Decision to Dissolve Senate, Syndicate of Punjab University Unfortunate: Folklore Research Academy

In a joint meeting of the members of the Folklore Research Academy (Regd.), Amritsar and the Progressive Writers’ Association (Amritsar Unit), participants expressed deep concern and strongly condemned the Central Government’s decision to dissolve the Senate and Syndicate of Punjab University.

Providing details, Academy President Ramesh Yadav stated that this decision is a direct violation of the Punjab Reorganization Act, 1966. By issuing a notification that fundamentally alters the university’s administrative structure, the government has undermined its long-standing democratic framework.

Under the new arrangement, no elections will be held in Punjab University, and graduate voters will lose their representation. The number of Senate members has been drastically reduced from 91 to 31, comprising 18 elected members, 6 nominated members, and 7 ex-officio members. The university will now be governed by a Board of Governors, chaired by the Vice Chancellor and including representatives of the Central Government, the University Grants Commission (U.G.C.), and the Chandigarh Administration.

The meeting described the government’s move as “a blow to democracy,” “an attempt to saffronize education,” “anti-Punjab,” and “direct interference in the university’s autonomy.” Members unanimously condemned what they termed a one-sided, unconstitutional, and dictatorial action, and appealed to the Central Government to immediately withdraw this decision.

Those present at the meeting included Satish Jhingan, Jaswant Singh Randhawa, Dilbagh Singh Sarkaria, Harjit Singh Sarkaria, Gurjinder Singh Baghiari, Onkar Singh, Harjinder Kaur Kang, Karamjit Kaur Jassal, Kamal Gill, S. Parshotam, Manjit Singh Dhaliwal, Jagroop Singh Emma, Bhupinder Singh Sandhu, Dharwinder Singh Aulakh, Harish Sabri, Sukhpal Singh, Prabhjot Kaur, Hira Singh, Rajpal Singh Sharma, and Gurbaz Singh Chhina.