MLA raises concern over delay in Senate election

Congress MLA from Kapurthala Rana Gurjeet Singh today demanded that the elections to Panjab University’s Senate be conducted at the earliest. Rana said that the Senate was the governing council and the top decision making body, which had a diaspora of members from different constituencies, including academicians, administrators in the field of education, university graduates and representatives from Punjab Vidhan Sabha.

“The Union Minister of State for Education had stated in the Parliament a few days ago that PU was an autonomous body and established by an Act of 1947 and the Senate election was conducted by the university after due approval from the Chancellor, i.e. the Vice-President. So, the people of Punjab, students and the alumni wants to know when will the elections being conducted,” said Rana Gurjeet Singh while questioning the delay and seeking clarity over the matter.

“The term of the Senate ended on October 31 and the process for election should have started in February or March. But this time, no preparations are visible,” the MLA said. The Senate is the university’s top body, supervising its affairs, issues and property. All decisions related to academics and the budget requires final approval. “This is the first time that the elections have been delayed due to the Chancellor’s office not approving the schedule,” Rana added.

Raising apprehensions, he also said that by no means the university which represented culture, tradition, history and ethos of Punjab be converted into a central university. The term of Senate ended on October 31 and the students have been protesting against the delay in the polls for over 45 days now on the campus.