A day before the deadline set by the PU Bachao Morcha for announcing the Senate election schedule, Panjab University has issued a firm order declaring November 26 a regular working day, even as the protesting groups prepare for a complete shutdown of the campus.
In a notice issued by the Office of the Dean of University Instruction (DUI) on November 24, the university informed all chairpersons, directors and coordinators that “November 26, 2025 will be a working day.” The circular directs all faculty members to remain present in their departments from 9 am to 5 pm, adding that examinations will take place as per schedule.
The announcement comes just hours before the PU Bachao Morcha’s deadline of November 25, by which the university administration was expected to declare the dates for the long-pending Senate elections. The Morcha has already announced that if the schedule is not released by Tuesday, the campus will observe a full bandh on November 26.
This includes the closure of academic activities, stopping work in the administrative block and holding protests across Chandigarh.
The latest notice by the university sets the stage for a direct confrontation. Students say they will not step back from the bandh call, while the university has made it clear that classes, departments and exams will continue as usual.
Earlier in the day, the Panjab University Staff Association appealed to student groups not to block the Administration Block, expressing concern for women employees who often leave late in the evening. They urged protesters to maintain safe access for staff while continuing their demonstrations.
The standoff comes amid a turbulent few weeks on campus, with daily marches, sit-ins and meetings involving students, teachers, farmer unions and employees’ groups. The Morcha’s key demand remains the same: announce the Senate poll dates and restore the democratic functioning of the university.
With the deadline ending tomorrow, both the administration and the protesters are standing firm. Students say they will meet late tonight to review the situation, while university officials hope that the scheduled meeting in Delhi will help bring clarity.
"Wednesday now appears set for a tense day on campus — depending on whether the Senate election notification finally arrives", said an alumnus of PU.