Chandigarh: Following Punjab and High Court approving the dates for Punjab University senate elections starting from August 3, campaigning has already started.
Notably, the four-year term of the senate had ended on October 31, 2021. The Senate polls were first scheduled for August last year but were postponed by PU’s Vice-Chancellor Prof RAJ Kumar, citing the Covid-19 pandemic and rise in the number of cases in the city. In April, after the High Court asked the VC about the delay, polls were set to be held from April 26 but were postponed again due to the onset of the second wave of Covid-19. Earlier, several former senators seeking re-election to the body had sent a representation to Punjab University Chancellor, demanding that appropriate instructions be issued to VC for holding of Senate elections, instead of the order issued by the High Court.
There was a difference of opinion regarding PU governance reforms where some were in favour of abolishing the senate system and some were opposing the restoring of all the powers to the VC, who will also have the right to nominate the members of his choice to the senate. NPS Sohal, an educationist said the senate comprises 92 members of whom 50 per cent are elected and the remaining are nominated. It is an independent body and sans any politicians. All members of the Senate are able educationists, who take collective decisions. Senate elections are held after every four years. The system has been in place for a long time and the university is performing well. The Board of Governors of Directors will not be so effective in university governance as they will be nominated by the Chancellor. As a result, a good number of politicians will become Senate members. Punjab University deserves to be headed by educationists. Decisions taken by educationists can improve teaching and benefit the students.
Upinder Kaur Seikhon, another educationist, said there is no doubt that Punjab University should continue with its Senate. This elected body is best for the working of the university. The education system under the Board of Governors/Directors is a failure. The Senate comprises the best of brains, who are aware of the shortcomings and amendments to be made, to improve academics and administration in the university. The Senate is not under any political pressure, which is why the Central Government is going after the body as it wants to dictate its ideology to the PU House. A young student requesting anonymity said any system will work perfectly sans political interference. At least spare institutions for students’ education. The present Senate system has been working perfectly to date. Delay in Senate elections has created problems for the university. It is due to political interference. It will be better if Panjab University continues with the Senate to run its affairs.
Many students and even former VCs feel that the Senate has become a means to appease some leaders. The Senate system has become a hindrance to the functioning of the university. This is the right time for comprehensive reforms. A Board of Governors/Directors takes control of the PU affairs. This model is successfully working in many institutions.
However, with the uncertainty over the senate and its role in PU is over with the High Court approving the dates of senate elections starting from August 3, polling will commence with constituencies of principals and staff of technical and professional colleges on the first day followed by the staff of technical and professional colleges, professors at university teaching departments, associate, assistant professors of teaching departments, heads of affiliated art colleges, professors at affiliated art colleges, registered graduates, who are the prime group with 3,61,869 eligible voters, and finally, the faculty.
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Navdeep Goyal, a former senator said most of the candidates are prepared for the polls, so not much of the campaigning is required. It is now up to the University how they want to hold the elections. Harpreet Singh Dua, a former syndicate member said we are ready for campaigning. As colleges are closed at present, the campaigning will be more directed towards different social media platforms.
(Article by Dinesh K Sharma)