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Hindustan Times
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Panjab University to reserve one seat for women in student body polls
In a significant decision aimed at fostering greater female participation in campus politics, Panjab University (PU) is set to introduce reservation for one of the four key office-bearer positions in the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) starting from the 2025-26 session. This move marks the first instance of any form of reservation for these coveted positions in the university's history. The decision stems from recommendations put forth by a committee, established by the vice-chancellor to overhaul the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) governing student elections. Led by professor Nandita Singh, this committee was tasked with drafting revised SOPs for the dean student welfare (DSW) office following a fatal stabbing incident on the campus in March. PU vice-chancellor Renu Vig confirmed that she had received the recommendations, assuring their implementation from the next academic session. 'The varsity has a large number of female students and there had been a pending proposal for a while calling for reservations in the PUCSC. With a bill passed to provide reservation for women in Lok Sabha seats, it is a step in the right direction to do this for the PU student council as well,' she said. According to the committee's recommendations, the specific office-bearer seat to be reserved—be it president, vice-president, general secretary or joint secretary—will be determined through a draw of lots conducted by the DSW office. However, this method raises the possibility that the prestigious president's seat might either be consistently overlooked or repeatedly selected. Addressing this concern, the vice-chancellor said they will monitor the situation and can choose rotational reservation for women, if needed. 'We can choose to hold a draw of lots at the start of the next session and then choose the seat to be reserved from the next session on rotational basis, either in ascending or descending order,' she said. Female students in majority yet underrepresented Despite comprising a majority of the student body, with approximately 52% female students compared to 48% male students in the last academic year, female representation in PUCSC leadership remains disproportionately low. Notably, only one female student, Kanupriya, has held the position of PUCSC president, during the 2018-19 session. Expressing her thoughts on the initiative, Kanupriya remarked, 'While I am excited about this, it seems too good to be true. PU elections are held as per the Lyngdoh Panel Guidelines and it remains to be seen how this reservation will be included while keeping with these guidelines. PU has made such promises in the past and not kept them.' She also emphasised the need for caste-based reservation within the female quota to prevent upper-caste female students from disproportionately benefiting. In some cases, parties also use women candidates to fetch votes but interfere in their working once they get elected. Something similar was seen last year when Ranmeekjot Kaur won the vice-president seat in the last session. Within a month of her election, her party Sath had cut ties with her. Speaking about the new initiative, she said, 'There is still a taboo in people's minds about women who enter politics. This initiative will normalise thinking of a career in politics for women and it is much needed.'
Time of India
02-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
PU redraws ballot: 1 student council seat to be reserved for woman
1 2 Chandigarh: Despite making up over 60% of the student body, women at Panjab University have had limited representation in student council posts — a gap the university now plans to address by reserving one of four key positions in the student council for a woman candidate starting from the 2025–26 session. The reform, confirmed by PU vice-chancellor Prof Renu Vig, follows a key recommendation by a committee led by Prof Nandita Singh. It is part of a broader initiative to promote inclusivity and strengthen women's representation in student leadership, setting the stage for a significant shift in campus politics. "There are so many capable girls in our university who deserve to lead. This is a positive and inclusive step to ensure they get a fair platform. We want to reach out and support their leadership potential in every possible way," said Prof Renu Vig. The reservation will apply to one of the four executive positions in the Panjab University Campus Students' Council (PUCSC) — President, Vice-President, Secretary or Joint Secretary. According to the SOP, the specific post to be reserved will be determined each year by a draw of lots by the Dean of Student Welfare Office within ten days of the academic session's start. Dean Student Welfare Prof Amit Chauhan welcomed the decision and said a meeting will soon be held with all PUCSC office-bearers and over 100 Department Representatives to discuss the rollout. "This change will encourage wider participation. We are committed to ensuring a smooth and fair implementation," he said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Google Brain Co-Founder Andrew Ng, Recommends: Read These 5 Books And Turn Your Life Around Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo Former PUCSC president Kanupriya, who held office in 2018–19, cautiously welcomed the move. "While I am elated about this news, I have doubts about its implementation, as PU elections are held under the Lyngdoh Panel Guidelines. Also, reserving seats for women without considering caste will disproportionately benefit upper-caste women while sidelining marginalised groups. That must be addressed in any progressive reform," she said. Ramneek, who served as PUCSC Vice President in 2023–24, said the policy could reshape how women view campus politics. "It's a big step. Girls are in larger numbers here but don't always enter politics because families often don't support it. This gives validation and a better image. Politics helps in developing maturity and confidence — this move will open that door for more of us." The SOP also recommends other changes, such as clubbing departments with fewer than 100 students for voting purposes and new regulations for polling booths. However, the gender reservation provision stands out as a major shift that could redefine the landscape of student leadership at Panjab University. BOX- JUST 1 PREZ SINCE 1977 Since the PUCSC's formation in 1977, only one woman has been elected President. Twenty have served as Vice President, three as Secretary and one as Joint Secretary. In the 2023 elections, three women — Arpita Malik (ABVP), Sarah Sharma (PSU Lalkaar), and Alka (Ambedkar Student Forum) — contested the President's post. None were elected. BOX- Scope for confusion in reservation process As per the SOP, the reserved post will be chosen each year by a draw of lots. However, this opens room for confusion — since the same post could be picked consecutively and the President's seat might not be reserved for years. Officials suggest that after the first draw, a rotational system is likely to be adopted for clarity and fairness.
