CHANDIGARH, May 19 – Panjab University students will no longer head to Goa’s beaches or Manali’s hills for campus council trips, as a new standard operating procedure (SOP) restricts travel to religious and educational destinations starting next academic session.
The university has officially approved a list of 11 locations for trips organised by the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC), with only sites such as historical landmarks, temples, and museums making the cut.
“This SOP will be implemented from the next session,” said Vice-Chancellor Renu Vig, confirming the move.
Approved locations include the Partition Museum and Harmandir Sahib in Amritsar, Science City in Kapurthala, Virasat-e-Khalsa in Anandpur Sahib, Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan, Nalanda University and Bodh Gaya in Bihar, Vaishno Devi temple in Jammu, and Rashtrapati Bhawan, Parliament, and the Prime Ministers Museum in New Delhi.
Each PUCSC office-bearer will be allowed to organise one trip per academic year, with the president receiving first preference, followed by the general secretary, vice-president, and joint secretary. Student lists for these trips will be verified by the respective departments, and fund allocation will be handled by the Dean Student Welfare (DSW) office.
The revised SOP emerged in the wake of the DSW office restructuring after a UIET student was fatally stabbed during a music concert on March 28. The incident led to the DSW being asked to step down in April, and a committee was constituted to oversee the office’s operations, including student trip policies.
“Leisure destinations were among the issues flagged by the committee, and this SOP was formulated a couple of weeks ago,” an official said.
DSW Amit Chauhan, who has since resumed charge, acknowledged the SOP but said it had not yet been officially communicated. “We will deliberate on the SOP to make a few changes, but it would be a good thing if they are implemented,” Chauhan said. “Dispersal of funds through the DSW office will ensure transparency.”
Officials also indicated that the list may be slightly expanded, with the addition of the term “etc.” to include similarly themed educational or religious sites.
Another key change is the requirement of two wardens—one male and one female—to accompany each trip. This marks a shift from past practice, where student council members independently coordinated the tours.
Previously, council-led trips frequently targeted leisure spots such as Himachal Pradesh and Goa, typically organised over long weekends or academic breaks.
“This change will give students meaningful exposure to India’s cultural and educational institutions,” said PUCSC vice-president Archit Garg. “It will also influence student politics positively by steering it towards constructive engagement.”
