Chandigarh, November 5, 2025 – The Central Government’s move to reverse its controversial order dissolving Panjab University’s Senate and Syndicate has been welcomed by the Punjabi Cultural Council, which called the step a victory for the university’s academic community and democratic traditions.
The decision effectively reinstates both governing bodies, restoring the university’s longstanding self-governing framework.
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Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal, president of the Council, described the reversal as a “triumph of people’s voice” and said it reflected the power of collective public pressure to challenge unilateral government decisions. “The government has recognized that it cannot dismantle the democratic structure of a 142-year-old institution that embodies Punjab’s cultural, scientific, and intellectual heritage,” he noted.
Grewal added that while the Council welcomes the corrective step, authorities must now ensure the university’s autonomy is safeguarded and that future attempts to undermine elected representation are prevented.
The November 1 notification had sparked widespread opposition from Punjabis across various sectors, as well as from student and academic groups. Critics argued that replacing elected members with nominees would have weakened the university’s democratic setup, calling for preservation rather than restructuring of the 59-year-old administrative system.
