For nearly two weeks, the historic campus of Panjab University has been transformed into a vibrant hub of dissent, with student-led demonstrations successfully challenging a central government notification and reigniting a crucial debate on institutional autonomy and federal rights.
From Notification to Nationwide Controversy
The spark was lit on October 28, 2025, when the Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) announced protests against a Centre notification. Citing the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, the government had decided to drastically reduce the strength of the university's 59-year-old Senate from 91 members to just 31, and similarly trim its executive body, the Syndicate.
This move was widely perceived as a bid to centralise control, with many labelling it an attempt to "saffronise" the institution and dilute Punjab's historical claim on Chandigarh. The issue quickly snowballed into a major political controversy, drawing sharp reactions from across the political spectrum.
A United Front: Students, Farmers, and Political Heavyweights
Spearheaded by PUCSC general secretary Abhishek Dagar under the banner of the Panjab University Bachao Morcha, the protests intensified into an indefinite hunger strike. This was partly in response to the university's move to seek "anti-protest" affidavits from students, further fuelling the agitation.
The movement gained unprecedented momentum on Monday, November 10, 2025, when farmers, arriving with tractors, joined the students. Together, they broke barricades and clashed with police at the Mohali-Chandigarh border. Balbir Singh Rajewal of the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) declared the student protest had given fresh impetus to their fight for Punjab's rights, including its waters and claim to Chandigarh.
The SKM has since announced a major rally in Chandigarh on November 26, vowing continued support for the students. The protests also saw the participation of Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) ministers, with Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann accusing the BJP of launching "another assault on Punjab’s autonomy." The Congress and Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) echoed these sentiments, calling it a direct attack on federalism.
A Dramatic Withdrawal and Unyielding Resolve
Facing mounting pressure, the Centre buckled and withdrew the controversial notification. However, the withdrawal was not without drama. On November 5, minutes after announcing the retraction, the Centre issued another notification stating the earlier one was merely being "put on hold." It was only on November 7, as campus protests escalated, that the notification was fully and finally withdrawn.
Despite this victory, the student leaders have vowed to continue their agitation. Their core demand now is the immediate conduct of Senate elections, which have been due since October 2024. Sandeep Kumar, president of Students for Society, issued a cautious warning, stating that if the Centre resorts to delaying tactics, students will not allow the university, including its administration and examination blocks, to function normally.
This student-farmer alliance has transformed a campus issue into a significant political movement, ensuring that the debate over Panjab University's autonomy and its symbolic importance to Punjab's identity is far from over.
