Extend PU Senate term, release election schedule: Harsimrat

Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) leader and Bathinda MP Harsimrat Kaur Badal has written to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan demanding an extension of the Panjab University (PU) Senate’s term and declaring a clear timeline for its elections. Harsimrat said she had apprised the minister of the ongoing agitation in the university and demanded holding of elections to the Senate. The term of the body had ended on October 31 this year.

On the delay in holding of the elections, she claimed that it was being done to reduce Punjab’s share in the administration of the university. She said the Senate has been the governing body, running the PU administration since 1904 and should remain so. She said 201 colleges of Punjab were affiliated with the university.

“The Senate elections are being delayed and attempts are on to centralise the university under the New Education Policy, 2020, thereby threatening its autonomy and heritage,” she said.

The MP also informed Pradhan that all political parties in Punjab had opposed the move as it would undermine the state’s democratic representation and voice in the administration of the university.