PU forms committee to draft constitution for student council

Time of India

5 days ago

Chandigarh: Responding to a formal proposal by Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) vice president, the university vice chancellor has ordered to set up a five member committee to draft a written constitution for the student body — the first such attempt in the council's history.
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Student council vice president Archit Garg, in a letter dated May 27, urged the Vice Chancellor to constitute a drafting committee to address what he described as a "crisis of representation, accountability, and legitimacy." He pointed out that the Council operates without a defined legal or procedural framework, reducing it to a "ceremonial body: visible, but voiceless; elected, but toothless."
Acting on this proposal, the university has formed a five-member committee chaired by Professor Nandita from the Department of Education.
The other members include Professor Sukhbir Kaur, former DSW (Women) from the Department of Zoology; Professor Ashok Kumar, former associate DSW from the Hindi Department; Professor Jagtar Singh, former DSW from the Department of Biotechnology; and an Assistant Registrar from the DSW office.
Professor Nandita has previously chaired high-level committees — examining the functioning of the DSW office, and that framed Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for student activities and institutional coordination.
The SOPs were in the news earlier this month following new proposals restricting star nights, PUCSC involvement in official events, and introducing clearer rules for student trips — moves that followed the death of student leader Aditya Thakur on campus in March.
"The idea is to build clarity and safeguards through proper documentation. A constitution will help define structure without undermining student expression.
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We will consult widely before drafting," said Professor Nandita.
The PUCSC was formed in the 1970s but has never had a written constitution. The newly formed committee is expected to hold initial consultations before submitting a draft.
BOX- Call for student voices in process
Welcoming the formation of the committee, Archit Garg said it was a step in the right direction but stressed that students must be given an active role in the drafting process.
"Those who have been part of the council and understand its ground functioning must be roped in. Student representation on the committee is essential for legitimacy and accountability," he said.
Students oppose proposal to rename PU
A proposal to rename Panjab University as Punjab and Haryana University, supported by Rohtak MP Deepender Hooda, has triggered strong opposition from many students. The suggestion was made in a letter from the Punjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) president Anurag Dalal to the Vice Chancellor, leading to widespread reaction across the campus and beyond.
Several student groups and former student leaders took to social media to express their outrage. SATH, a student organisation, described the proposal as an attack on Punjab's heritage and identity, underlining Panjab University's origins in Lahore as central to its history. The group urged political parties in Punjab to come together to protect the university's name and its connection to Chandigarh.
In addition to SATH, other student leaders including Saksham Sharma of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Kanwar Inder Pratap Singh of the Student Organisation of Panjab University (SOPU) also spoke out against the proposal.
Former PUCSC member Karan Randhawa joined them in criticising the suggested name change on social media, calling it inappropriate and stressing the importance of preserving the university's identity.
While the proposal has received political backing from Deepender Hooda, many students and members of the university community remain opposed, emphasising the cultural and historical significance of the university's current name. They argue that Panjab University's name reflects its legacy and strong ties to Punjab, which should not be altered.
The debate over the proposed name change continues to spark discussion among students, political figures, and other stakeholders, with many calling for the preservation of the university's historic identity.