The North News
Chandigarh, November 27
The Vice-President of India, who also serves as Chancellor of Panjab University, has approved the schedule for the university’s Senate elections, clearing the way for the first full-term polls since the previous body completed its tenure in October 2024. The approval was conveyed in a letter sent to Vice-Chancellor Prof Renu Vig by the Vice-President’s Secretariat on November 27. The university had earlier forwarded its proposed schedule for elections across multiple constituencies, including registered graduates, teaching departments and affiliated colleges.
According to documents reviewed by The North News, a total of 50 seats will be filled across seven categories. Elections will be held between September 7 and October 4, 2026, with counting scheduled within two days in most cases.
The decision is significant as the Panjab University Bachao Morcha, which has been protesting for the past 27 days, has warned that it will intensify its agitation — including a planned gherao of BJP offices on 3 December — if the dates for the Senate elections are not announced.
According to the the Vice-President’s Secretariat, registered graduates—one of the largest constituencies—will vote on September 20, while the faculties within the university campus will conduct their polls on October 4. Separate dates have been fixed for professors, associate professors, assistant professors, principals, and staff of technical and professional colleges.
The university said the schedule has been issued in line with Section 13 of the Panjab University Act, which mandates the election of ordinary fellows every four years.The Vice-President’s approval allows the university to proceed with preparations for what is expected to be one of the most significant internal electoral exercises in the institution’s recent history.
