
PU drafts strict fest SOPs, bans star nights, fixes calendar for council events
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Chandigarh: No more stars, no more swagger —
Panjab University
's cultural festivals are being pulled back to earth. In a push to strip council fests of their celebrity gloss and political overreach, a university committee has drafted new rules that aim to bring the spotlight back on students, not star performers.From fixed dates to banned star nights, and tight financial checks to academic focus, the proposed SOPs by a committee headed by Prof Nandita Singh mark a sharp shift from the showbiz-style festivals that had come to define PU in recent years.The proposed plan ties every council festival to a specific time of year.
Agaaz, the opening event for freshers, will take place in Oct. Vimarsh will be held in Feb with a focus on discussions, debates, quizzes, and expert talks around contemporary national and global issues. Running alongside will be Scitron, a science exhibition aimed at promoting innovation and scientific temperament through inter-college and inter-university competitions. Both will be indoor events. The final fest, Jhankaar, will be organised in mid-March and will feature large-scale cultural and academic contests. No event will be permitted after March 15 due to the financial year's close.Each event must include all council members, with no division of fests between them. At least two office bearers must be assigned to each festival. All financial documents including bills, quotations, and tenders must be signed by every council member. No cash sponsorships will be accepted; funds must be deposited in a DSW-controlled bank account with a provision for audit. All stalls during events will be allotted centrally by the DSW office and none will be permitted on the upper floor of the Student Centre.Council fests aren't the only ones being reined in. Departmental fests like Cynide, Vortex, and Goonz will be allowed only if they are academic in nature. Star nights will not be permitted in any departmental or university-level event. DJs, flash mobs, and announcements can only take place between 1 and 2 pm at the Student Centre, and must not exceed the 50 decibel sound limit.Film and music promotions will be charged as per university norms, and
student council
collaboration cannot be used to waive charges.
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Events like Punjab Day or Haryana Day won't be allowed at the Student Centre.Booking of the Law Auditorium has also been capped. The president can recommend up to four functions during the tenure, the secretary three, and the vice president and joint secretary two each. Security deposit has been raised from Rs 5,000 to Rs 10,000. No free bookings will be allowed for non-council cultural events.Women's Day celebrations will be organised by female office bearers.
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During hostel functions, the number of council members visiting hostels will be fixed by DSW and DJs in girls' hostels will be allowed only from 9 to 10 pm with prior permission.Security at events will be handled by the university security chief in consultation with Chandigarh Police. The vice-chancellor, DUI, or DSW can cancel any event if the atmosphere is found to be unsuitable.The committee's recommendations are under review and could be implemented starting the next academic session.Key festival SOP revampsFixed calendar: Agaaz (Oct), Vimarsh & Scitron (Feb), Jhankaar (March)Star nights banned in all university and department festsNo PUCSC events after March 15All council members must be involved in every festNo cash sponsorships; funds via DSW account onlyCentralised stall allotment, upper floor stalls bannedDJs/flash mobs only 1–2 pm at 50 dB limitLaw Auditorium bookings capped per office bearerDepartment fests must be strictly academicHoli guidelinesLast Holi saw outsiders jumping walls and chaos at PUHoli celebrations are now banned at Student CentreDepartments may allow Holi one day before the festival (last working day)No outsiders will be allowedStudents must ensure celebrations remain incident-freeSecurity will be deployed across campus
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