The confusion over Panjab University’s Senate and Syndicate refuses to settle, even after two back-to-back notifications from the Central Government. The issue has left Panjab University without an elected governing body for over a year and raised fresh questions about autonomy in higher education.
The controversy began on October 28, when the Ministry of Education issued a notification to restructure how Panjab University is governed. Under the proposed changes, the Senate, the University’s highest elected body, would become much smaller, with most of its members nominated by the government or officials instead of being elected by teachers, students, or alumni. The long-standing system that allowed University graduates to vote and elect representatives was also to be removed completely.
Similarly, the Syndicate, which functions as the University’s executive body managing administrative and financial matters, was to be reconstituted with fewer elected members and more nominated ones. In short, both governing bodies were set to shift from a democratic, election-based system to a nominated, government-controlled model, a change that many saw as a direct blow to the University’s autonomy.
The move triggered immediate protests across the campus. Teachers, students and alumni said the changes would end the University’s democratic spirit, under which members were chosen through elections for decades. The Punjab Government also objected, calling it an encroachment on the University’s heritage and independent functioning.
Facing widespread criticism, the Centre appeared to soften its stance. On November 4, it issued another notification that withdrew the October order but clarified that the restructuring would still happen on “a date to be appointed by the Central Government.” In simpler terms, the plan has not been scrapped — it has only been put on hold for now.
Meanwhile, Panjab University continues to operate without an elected Senate. The previous Senate’s term expired on October 31, 2024, and no fresh elections have been held since. With both the Senate and Syndicate in limbo, key administrative and academic decisions have slowed down, and many in the University community feel their voices are no longer being heard.
Teachers’ associations and student groups have urged the government to either restore the earlier democratic setup or announce fresh elections immediately. “Panjab University has always taken pride in its participatory governance. Keeping the Senate vacant for so long damages that tradition,” said a senior faculty member.
"For now, Panjab University remains caught between an old structure that no longer exists and a new one that hasn’t yet begun. Until the Centre decides on the final course of action, the University’s governance system, once known for its open and elected representation, remains in uncertainty", said sources.