After nearly a month of sustained demonstrations that saw confrontations with police, political interventions, and academic disruptions, the PU Bachao Morcha officially called off their 27-day-long protest at Panjab University on Friday. The decision came after the university administration provided written responses addressing several key demands raised by the protesting students.
Written Assurances and Unresolved Issues
The protest movement, which began earlier this month, culminated in a series of meetings between student representatives and university officials. Fifteen Haryana students met with Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig, the Dean of Students Welfare, and other senior administrators in a session that extended for more than three hours. The lengthy discussion resulted in the university providing documented responses to the Morcha's concerns.
While the university addressed multiple demands in writing, one significant issue remains unresolved. The committee examining demands raised by Haryana students will continue functioning despite protesters calling for its dissolution. University officials clearly communicated to the delegation that the committee had not been scrapped and would remain operational, with its next meeting scheduled for the coming week.
Three Key Responses from University Administration
The university issued three separate written communications addressing different aspects of the protesters' demands. Regarding the committee examining Haryana students' concerns, the university stated that minutes from the November 17, 2025 meeting would be shared on December 1, 2025, with subsequent committee meetings to follow based on member availability.
Another critical response concerned the withdrawal of FIRs against 14 students who were booked during protests in November 2024. These students had attempted to reach the venue of Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann's public appearance. The university administration committed to forwarding this matter through appropriate legal and administrative channels for consideration.
The third written communication addressed objections to recently introduced Standard Operating Procedures governing student activities, permissions, and election conduct. The university assured protesters that these concerns would be placed before statutory bodies for proper examination and consideration.
Return to Normalcy After Weeks of Turmoil
Following receipt of the three official letters, Morcha leaders conducted a brief internal meeting before announcing the formal conclusion of their sit-in protest near the Administrative Block. The decision prompted immediate action as protesters began dismantling tents, removing posters, and packing supplies that had sustained their 27-day demonstration. Community kitchen services continued until complete dispersal of the protest site.
The protest period had significantly disrupted campus life, resulting in two rounds of postponed examinations and heavy security deployment featuring Chandigarh Police, Rapid Action Force, and Indo-Tibetan Border Police personnel across university grounds. The announcement of Senate election schedules from the Chancellor's office earlier in the week had already begun shifting campus dynamics, with celebrations occurring at the protest site before its formal conclusion.
With the Morcha now stepping back and the protest infrastructure removed, routine academic and administrative functions are expected to resume across Panjab University. However, the committee addressing Haryana students' concerns will continue its deliberations, with further proceedings anticipated after December 1, ensuring this particular issue remains active within university governance structures.
