The North News
Chandigarh, July 8
Punjab Higher Education Minister Harjot Singh Bains has criticised Panjab University, Chandigarh, for imposing a mandatory affidavit for students seeking fresh admission in the 2025–26 academic session, calling the move “dictatorial and arbitrary”.
In a letter to the university’s Vice Chancellor on Tuesday, Bains — an ex-officio Senate member of the university — sought clarification on the decision-making process behind the affidavit and whether it had Senate or Syndicate approval.
The university has faced backlash over clauses in the proposed affidavit, which allegedly require students to seek prior permission for protests, confine demonstrations to designated spaces, and include vague terms such as “outsider”, “stranger” and “ugly” — terms Bains described as unethical and inhumane.
He also raised concerns over punitive provisions, including potential admission cancellation and lifelong bans from campus without due process, notice, or the right to appeal.
“This affidavit threatens to suppress student activism and undermines Panjab University’s democratic ethos,” Bains wrote. “It violates the spirit of Article 19 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech.”
Calling Panjab University a historic institution known for nurturing leadership and intellectual freedom, Bains urged the Vice Chancellor to reconsider the affidavit and conduct a thorough review of its clauses to ensure they align with constitutional protections and academic values.
The university has yet to issue a response.
