Campus Unrest Pushes Punjab University To Postpone Exams

Panjab University has found itself at the centre of a growing storm, forced to postpone all examinations slated for November 18 to 20 as student protests intensify on campus. What began as a call for the long-delayed Senate election schedule has transformed into a full-fledged movement, drawing in political parties, farmer groups, and city police forces.

Controller of Examinations Jagat Bhushan announced the deferment on Friday, assuring students that fresh dates will be issued soon. For now, the university has urged candidates to stay glued to official updates-a sign of uncertainty gripping the institution.

A Demand That Refuses to Die Down

The spark behind the agitation is simple: students want the university to announce the Senate poll schedule. The election, pending for months, has become a rallying point for student groups who accuse the administration of unnecessary delays. Many had already declared they would boycott exams beginning November 18 unless their demand was addressed.

On November 12, representatives met the Vice Chancellor, who assured them that the election schedule is awaiting final approval. But assurance wasn't enough. The protests only gathered momentum.

Clashes, Slogans, Barricades

The past few days have seen the tension shift from simmering discontent to open confrontation. As students tried to enter the campus, police intervened, resulting in mild lathi-charge and brief clashes. The air rang with slogans like "Go back, Chandigarh Police," as protesters pushed forward under the banner of the "Panjab University Bachao Morcha."

Farmer leaders also joined the march, adding weight-and emotion-to the agitation. Barricades at the Chandigarh-Mohali border reportedly fell as groups surged forward.

Politics Enters the Scene

The agitation gained further momentum when multiple political outfits stepped in. Leaders from AAP, the Congress, Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD), and even Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM Non-Political) voiced support for the students.

SAD chief Sukhbir Singh Badal visited the protest site, calling for unity to "protect the university." He promised that an SAD-led delegation would approach the Vice President of India to seek intervention in the matter.

Students Stand Firm

Student leaders insist the movement will not lose steam until the Senate poll schedule is officially released. PUCSC Vice President Ashmeet Singh alleged that students were being denied campus entry, while fellow leader Abhishek Dagar reaffirmed that the protest would continue unabated.

A Long Shadow of Governance Issues

The current turmoil has roots in the Centre's October notification to restructure PU's Senate and Syndicate-an order later withdrawn on November 7. But the unease it created still lingers.

The postponement of exams, clashes on campus, and rising political involvement underscore a larger crisis in university governance-a crisis that students say they will not let slip into silence.