Chandigarh: In a significant development, the Ministry of Education (Department of Higher Education), Government of India has revoked its Notification No. 5023 dated November 4, 2025, through a fresh order (S.O. 5063(E)) issued on November 7, 2025. The earlier notification had sought to restructure the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University, Chandigarh—a move that triggered widespread protests from students, faculty, and political parties.

Center’s Controversial Move

On October 28, the Union Ministry of Education had issued a notification amending the Panjab University Act, 1947, introducing sweeping changes to the university’s 59-year-old governance model—long regarded as unique for its strong element of elected representation.

Previous Governance Structure

The Panjab University Senate comprised 91 members, including elected representatives from among university faculty, college principals, and affiliated institutions. A distinctive feature was the Registered Graduates’ Constituency, which allowed alumni of the university to elect 15 members (Fellows) to the Senate.

The Syndicate, the university’s principal executive body, was largely elected from the Senate, ensuring a democratic and participatory governance system.

Proposed Changes

The October 28 notification proposed a drastic overhaul:

• Abolition of the Registered Graduates’ Constituency, ending alumni voting rights in Senate elections.

• Reduction of the Senate from 91 to 31 members, comprising 18 elected, 6 nominated, and 7 ex-officio members.

• Reconstitution of the Syndicate into a body dominated by government officials, including the Union Higher Education Secretary and the Education Secretaries of Punjab and Chandigarh, thereby reducing the representation of elected faculty members.

Government’s Partial Retraction

Amid mounting opposition, the Central government took two major steps on November 4:

Withdrawal of the October 28 Notification: The government announced the revocation of the earlier order—a move widely celebrated by protesting students and political groups. The PUCSC secretary ended his seven-day hunger strike following the announcement.

Issuance of a ‘Revised’ Notification: Later the same day, a fresh directive clarified that the amendments to the Panjab University Act would “take effect from the date appointed by the Central Government.”

This effectively placed the proposed reforms on hold indefinitely rather than cancelling them outright—a move described by critics as a “tactical pause.”

Final Withdrawal

With protests continuing to escalate, the Ministry of Education on November 7, 2025, issued a new notification (S.O. 5063(E)), completely withdrawing its earlier decision to restructure Panjab University’s governance system.

Protests to Continue, say Students

Despite the government’s complete rollback, student groups like “Sath” have announced that their agitation will continue until fresh elections are held to reconstitute the university’s Senate and Syndicate.

“The withdrawal is a victory for democratic voices, but our struggle will continue until the governance bodies are re-elected through due process,” said one student leader told Sikh Siyasat News (SSN) over phone.

The future of Panjab University’s governance now remains uncertain, as the Centre’s move marks both a retreat and a reminder of the institution’s deep-rooted democratic traditions.

Government of India’s Gazette Notification dated 7 November 2025: