Premium

‘Go back to your classes’: High Court asks PU protesters to prioritise academics amid plea for Senate poll schedule

Additional Solicitor General Satya Pal Jain informed the Punjab and Haryana High Court that the university was “processing the election schedule”.

3 min readChandigarhUpdated: Nov 15, 2025 11:00 AM IST

The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Satya Pal Jain, said the government had already withdrawn the recent notifications that restructured the Senate after student protests.

The Punjab and Haryana High Court Friday asked parties pressing for immediate Senate elections at Panjab University to first ensure that “academic activity is normal” on campus.

The division bench of Chief Justice Sheel Nagu and Justice Sanjiv Berry was hearing a petition seeking notification of the long-pending election schedule. The court also hoped that the elections would be held “as expeditiously as possible”.

The petitioners, who are former Senate members, argued that the university has been without its two statutory governing bodies – the Senate and the Syndicate – since late 2024, leaving “all administrative powers” with the vice-chancellor. The court was informed that the university had repeatedly stated that it had forwarded the election schedule to the chancellor, who is the Vice-President of India, but “no approval has been granted”, even though the Panjab University Act “does not contemplate any such approval”.

The agitation among the university’s students and faculty was attributed to this vacuum. “There has been one year of delay. Six schedules were sent between December 2023 and June 2024. The Act itself prescribes that the schedule must begin 240 days before polling,” R Kartikeya, the counsel, informed the bench, reading from sections 11, 13 and 20 of the Panjab University Act, which vest the varsity’s management and superintendence in the Senate and the Syndicate.

The Centre, represented by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Satya Pal Jain, said the government had already withdrawn the recent notifications that restructured the Senate after student protests. He informed the court that the university was “processing the election schedule” and that it involved a large exercise, with “3.50 lakh registered graduate voters” spread across Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Delhi and Chandigarh.

ASG Jain said the issues raised in this petition were identical to those in a number of connected matters listed for December 16. He added that the Centre “wants to hold the elections” and was considering the entire process, but pointed to the ongoing unrest on campus. “For elections, you need a cordial atmosphere,” he said, adding that the final schedule was likely to be placed before the court on December 16.

During the hearing, the bench pressed the petitioners on the ongoing protests. “Please go back to your classes,” CJ Nagu remarked at one point, prompting the counsel to clarify that the petitioners were former senators, not students. The court observed, “Why are students these days so interested in elections? They are there to study. Education is being imparted, allow that to happen.”

Story continues below this ad

When the counsel argued that the absence of elected bodies was impairing administration, the bench asked which was more important for the university at this stage: examinations or elections. “Exams indeed are important,” the counsel responded, but maintained that only an undertaking to notify the schedule within a reasonable time would end the agitation.

ASG Jain said the Centre would file its reply in the matter before December 16. The bench indicated that while it could request the chancellor to act “expeditiously”, it could not fix a timeline beyond what the statute itself prescribes. The matter was thus disposed of.

Manraj Grewal Sharma

Manraj Grewal Sharma is a senior journalist and the Resident Editor of The Indian Express in Chandigarh, where she leads the newspaper’s coverage of north India’s most politically and institutionally significant regions. From Punjab and Haryana to Himachal Pradesh and the Union Territory of Chandigarh, she oversees reporting at the intersection of governance, law, politics and society. She also reports on the diaspora, especially in Canada and the US. With a career spanning journalism across several countries, academia and international development, Manraj brings a rare depth of perspective to regional reporting. She is widely regarded as a leading chronicler of Punjab’s contemporary history and socio-political evolution, particularly its long shadow of militancy, federal tensions and identity politics. Her book, Dreams after Darkness, remains a definitive account of the militancy years and their enduring aftermath. Professional Background & Expertise A gold medalist in mass communication and a post-graduate in English literature, Manraj has a multifaceted career spanning journalism, academia, and international development. She was also awarded a fellowship by National Foundation of India and did several in-depth pieces on Manipur. Internationally, she has reported from Israel, US, UK, Myanmar, and Mauritius Her key focus areas include: Regional Politics, History, Agriculture, Diaspora, and Security. Of late, she has started focusing on Legal & Judicial Affairs: Much of her recent work involves reporting on high-stakes cases in the Punjab and Haryana High Court, ranging from environmental policy to civil rights. International Consulting: She previously served as a consulting editor for the Asia Pacific Adaptation Network and a publishing consultant for the Asian Development Bank (ADB) in Manila. Academia: For five years, she was the managing editor of Gender, Technology and Development, a peer-reviewed international journal at the Asian Institute of Technology, Bangkok. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) Her recent reportage focuses heavily on judicial interventions and regional governance: 1. Environment & Governance "‘NGT can’t test legality of policy’: HC hears challenge to Punjab’s ‘Green Habitat’ plan" (Dec 22, 2025): Covering a critical legal battle over whether the National Green Tribunal has the authority to strike down a state policy regularizing farmhouses on delisted forest land. "High court pulls up Punjab poll panel over audio clip probe" (Dec 10, 2025): Reporting on judicial concerns regarding the transparency and fairness of local body elections. 2. Legal Rights & Social Welfare "HC issues notice to Punjab, Haryana over delay in building old age homes" (Dec 22, 2025): Reporting on a contempt petition against top officials for failing to establish government-run homes for the elderly as promised in 2019. "Victims can appeal acquittals in sessions court without seeking special leave" (Dec 19, 2025): Highlighting a significant procedural shift in criminal law following a Supreme Court ruling. "HC upholds benefits for Punjab FCI officer acquitted in 20-year-old bribery case" (Dec 19, 2025): A report on the concept of "honourable acquittal" and its impact on employee benefits. 3. Human Rights & Identity "As Punjab denies parole to MP Amritpal Singh, HC asks it to submit ‘foundational material’" (Dec 1, 2025): Covering the legal proceedings regarding the radical preacher and sitting MP's request to attend Parliament. "Protecting life paramount: HC backs Muslim woman in live-in after verbal divorce" (Nov 6, 2025): Analyzing judicial protections for personal liberty in the context of traditional practices. Signature Beats Manraj is recognized for her ability to decode complex judicial rulings and relate them to the everyday lives of citizens. Whether it is a 30-year-old land battle in Fazilka or the political implications of Kangana Ranaut’s candidacy in Mandi, her writing provides deep historical and regional context. Contact @grewal_sharma on X manrajgrewalsharma on Instagram ... Read More