Manish Tewari Urges Centre to Withdraw Panjab University Restructuring Plan

New Delhi, Nov 6 : Chandigarh MP Manish Tewari on Thursday met Vice President C P Radhakrishnan and expressed concern over the restructuring of the Panjab University Senate and Syndicate by the central government and demanded the complete withdrawal of the decision.

In a post on X, the senior Congress leader said, "Met Vice President of India C P Radhakrishan. Congratulated him on his election. Apprised him with my views on the continuing impasse qua the restructuring of Panjab University Chandigarh Senate and Syndicate".

Sources said Tewari is learnt to have told the Vice President, who is also the Chancellor of Panjab University, that the decision of restructuring of Panjab University Senate and Syndicate must be withdrawn.

Tewari has been demanding the complete withdrawal of the Centre's notification and consultations with all stakeholders before initiating any restructuring.

He has also said that if any consensus emerges after consultations with stakeholders, the restructuring of the PU Senate and Syndicate will be brought about through an amendment in the Panjab University Act, noting that the competent authority to do so is the Punjab Vidhan Sabha -- not the Union government -- through an executive notification under Section 72 of the Act.

Amid mounting pressure from various political leaders and protesting students, the Centre has decided to "put on hold" the implementation of its earlier notification, which proposed the restructuring of the Panjab University's governing bodies.

Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann asked the Union government to completely roll back its move of restricting the Panjab University's governing bodies and also said his government will explore all legal options in this regard.

According to a fresh notification issued by the Centre, "the Central Government hereby directs that the Punjab University Act, 1947 (East Punjab Act 7 of 1947), shall have effect from the date, as appointed by the Central Government, subject to the following modifications."

The Centre, in its earlier decision, had restructured the decision-making bodies of the Centre-controlled varsity, reducing the number of people on its Senate and Syndicate.