Chandigarh, NOV 1: For the first time since 1966, the Union Government has restructured the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University (PU), transforming the university’s top decision-making body from an elected to a fully nominated one. The move, described by officials as a shift from political to academic control, marks a historic overhaul of the 142-year-old institution.
Constituted on November 1, 1966, the Syndicate of PU—originally established in Lahore in 1882—will now operate under sweeping changes notified under the Panjab University Act, 1947 (East Punjab Act 7 of 1947). According to inputs the Graduate constituency has been abolished altogether, and the Senate’s strength has been sharply reduced from 90 to just 31 members, including 18 elected, six nominated and seven ex-officio.
For the first time, the Chandigarh MP, the UT’s Chief Secretary and Education Secretary have been inducted as ex-officio members, alongside senior Punjab government officials. The university’s executive powers will continue to rest with the Syndicate, but its composition has been completely recast.
Under the amended Section 13 of the Act, the category of Ordinary Fellows has been revised, capping their number at 24. The reconstituted body will include two eminent PU alumni nominated by the Chancellor, two professors elected from university teaching departments (one each from Arts and Science), two associate or assistant professors elected likewise, four principals of affiliated or constituent colleges, six teachers from affiliated colleges, and two Punjab MLAs nominated by the Speaker. The remaining seats will be filled by the Chancellor from among distinguished public figures or those with notable contributions to education and research.
“All elections of Ordinary Fellows will require the Chancellor’s approval, with each term fixed at four years,” a senior official said. Members who lose their qualifying position will automatically vacate office. Disputes over eligibility—whether one qualifies as a professor, principal, or associate professor—will be settled by the Vice Chancellor. Section 14 of the Act has been omitted, while the Senate retains the power to create faculties through regulations.
The Syndicate, now headed by the Vice Chancellor as Chairperson, will include the Secretary, Higher Education, Government of India (or representative), DPIs of Punjab and Chandigarh, one Senate member nominated by the Chancellor and ten members nominated by the Vice Chancellor on a rotational seniority basis. The high-powered ex-officio list features the Punjab Chief Minister, Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, Punjab Education Minister, Chandigarh Chief Secretary, Punjab Higher Education Secretary, UT Education Secretary and the Chandigarh MP.
The Department of Higher Education, Union Ministry of Education, carried out the restructuring under relevant legal provisions, based largely on recommendations of a 2021 committee set up by the then Vice President and PU Chancellor, M. Venkaiah Naidu. The panel included the VCs of PU, Central University of Punjab (Bathinda) and Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar), with former MP and Senate member Satya Pal Jain representing the Chancellor.
After the committee submitted its report in 2022, the proposal awaited clearance until the new PU Chancellor and Vice President, CP Radhakrishnan, who took charge on September 12 this year, reviewed and approved the final recommendations. Officials said the notification formalising the reconstitution is expected shortly.
