(MOREPIC1) Face2News/Chandigarh
The Punjabi Cultural Council has welcomed the Central Government’s decision to withdraw its controversial notification dissolving the Senate and Syndicate of Panjab University, calling it a victory for Punjab’s academic community, students and democratic values. The move has effectively reinstated both governing bodies, restoring the university’s long-standing democratic framework.
Council president Advocate Harjeet Singh Grewal said the Centre’s reversal proved that public pressure and collective will can overturn even the most misguided and unilateral decisions. Calling the step a “triumph of people’s voice,” State Awardee Grewal remarked that the BJP government has finally realized it cannot dismantle the democratic structure of a 142-year-old institution that represents Punjab’s cultural, scientific and intellectual spirit.
Grewal added that while the Council appreciates this corrective action concerning one of India’s oldest and most respected universities, the Centre must now ensure that there will be no future attempts to undermine the university’s autonomy or Punjab’s rightful representation in its administration.
He said Punjabis from all walks of life had stood united in opposing the November 1 order, which was widely seen as an unconstitutional interference in the university’s historic self-governance. Various academic and student groups had also demanded that instead of restructuring the 59-year-old system and replacing elected members with nominees, the Centre should preserve and strengthen the university’s democratic setup.
