Students protest against ‘affidavit requirement’ outside V-C office, authorities ignore demands

Tuesday’s protest saw addresses by Professor Manjeet Singh, S P Singh, Dr Pyare Lal Garg, advocate Amarjeet, and Professor Jatinder.

By: Express News Service

Chandigarh | September 30, 2025 08:57 PM IST

2 min read

Recently, the Panjab University (PU) asked new students to submit an affidavit restricting their fundamental right to protest under Article 19.(File)

Hundreds of students Tuesday gathered outside the Panjab University Vice-Chancellor’s office to protest against the unconstitutional and undemocratic affidavit being imposed upon them. Despite the scorching heat, over 300 students and even the visually impaired stood united to raise their voice, joined by council members Ashmeet and Mohit Manderna.

Recently, the Panjab University (PU) asked new students to submit an affidavit restricting their fundamental right to protest under Article 19. The affidavit’s first clause requires prior permission for any protest, dharna, or rally. Also, protests are to be held at a designated site near the police chowki, far from the offices of higher authority, and repeated violations may lead to admission cancellation, campus bans, and derecognition from elections.

Tuesday’s protest saw addresses by Professor Manjeet Singh, S P Singh, Dr Pyare Lal Garg, advocate Amarjeet, and Professor Jatinder. Students carried with them signature petitions and a memorandum to present to university authorities, but their concerns were met with silence.

“Throughout the day, the university administration engaged in delaying tactics, repeatedly claiming that officials would arrive in five to 10 minutes, yet the V-C, DUI, and the chairpersons did not address our demands,” said a student, adding that students were pressured not to participate and the chairpersons directed students to stay away. The protest remained peaceful, and at the end of the demonstration, the students symbolically threw their signed petitions and memorandum in front of the V-C office, declaring that the authorities’ refusal to listen
had only strengthened their resolve.

The students have given the university time to reconsider its stand on the affidavit. However, they warned that if their genuine demands continue to be ignored, a larger and stronger course of action will follow.

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