Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann on Tuesday called for immediate conduct of Senate elections in Panjab University, Chandigarh, and sought the intervention of Vice President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar to resolve the matter. Mann, in a letter to Dhankhar, highlighted the delay in holding the elections, despite the current Senate's term expiring on October 31, 2024.
Mann emphasized the emotional and cultural significance of Panjab University for the state, which was established under the Punjab University Act, 1947, to compensate for the loss of the Lahore University post-partition. He stressed that since the University's inception, elections to the Senate have been held every four years, typically in August or September. However, this year, the elections have yet to be conducted, causing widespread discontent among stakeholders, including teachers, graduates, and university professionals.
The Chief Minister expressed concern over the potential replacement of the democratic election process with nominations — a move he believed would undermine the University's democratic principles and diminish the role of the graduate electorate. He urged the Vice-President to advise the Panjab University administration and the Union Territory of Chandigarh to ensure timely and proper conduct of the Senate elections, in accordance with university statutes and the principles of good governance.
