Chandigarh: Haryana domicile students and alumni of Panjab University have strongly objected to recent statements by certain individuals and political groups claiming that Panjab University belongs exclusively to Punjab. In a collective statement issued on Sunday, they termed such assertions “factually incorrect” and contrary to the historical foundation of the university.
The group highlighted that Panjab University is located in Chandigarh — the joint capital of Punjab and Haryana — and existed well before the reorganisation of the state in 1966. They pointed out that several colleges from territories now part of Haryana were earlier affiliated with Panjab University, and official records substantiate this.
Calling the exclusive-ownership narrative misleading and politically motivated, the students and alumni said: “Haryana has an equal historical, academic and moral stake in Panjab University. We have studied here, paid fees here and represented this University at national and international levels. We are the genuine stakeholders.”
They further demanded that any future notification or structural reform initiated by the Government of India must acknowledge the historical share and rightful claim of Haryana domicile students and alumni in the University.
The group also cautioned against external political pressure groups attempting to convert the university into a single-state institution. They emphasised the need for representation of real stakeholders — students and alumni — in consultations and decision-making processes.
Reiterating that Panjab University serves the entire region, they stated: “PU is not the exclusive property of any one State. As a historic institution located in a Union Territory, its identity should embody inclusiveness, not exclusion.”
