Particle.news
Download on the App Store

Panjab University Protesters Issue New Demands, Threaten Exam Boycott Over Senate Poll Delay

Students seek written guarantees alongside a firm election timetable following the Centre’s withdrawal of its reform order.

Overview

  • Student groups submitted a four-point charter seeking a written freeze on new administrative decisions until Senate polls are notified, a review of major past decisions, withdrawal of cases and disciplinary actions, and scrapping of the speaker-vetting regime with reservation rules enforced in hiring.
  • Leaders gave the administration two days to announce a poll schedule and warned of boycotting final exams from November 18 and shutting the administration block, with a meeting set with the vice-chancellor on Wednesday.
  • University officials say a detailed Senate election schedule has been forwarded to the Chancellor, security has been reinforced on campus, and November 10–11 were declared holidays.
  • More than 5,000 people, including farmers, rallied on campus this week, with tractors seen at protest sites and clashes reported at the MohaliChandigarh border as unions pledged ongoing support and announced a November 26 rally.
  • The Centre’s October 28 order to shrink the Senate and Syndicate was first put on hold and then withdrawn on November 7, yet protests continue under an autonomy banner, with one PUCSC office-bearer quitting the morcha over claims of divisive rhetoric.