Gurugram: Haryana is gearing up to renew its longstanding demand of the state’s share in Panjab University, Chandigarh, at the 32nd Northern Zonal Council Committee meeting to be held at Faridabad on 17 November.
The 32nd Northern Zonal Council, which includes Haryana, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan, and the Union Territories of Chandigarh, the National Capital Territory of Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh, was initially scheduled to meet on 11 September, but it was rescheduled for 17 November.
A senior officer in the Haryana government confirmed that the state government had raised the issue of Haryana’s share in the Panjab University in the previous meeting of the council, too, and it will be raised again on 17 November.
In the 31st Northern Zonal Council meeting held at Amritsar on 26 September 2023, 28 specific agenda items, including Haryana’s claim on Panjab University were discussed.
Some of the other agendas discussed in that meeting were interstate river water sharing, Bhakra Beas Management Board, security, law and order, prevention of cyber crime, fast-track special courts for trial of offences under POCSO, and implementation of several central schemes.
What is behind Haryana’s claim?
Established in 1882 in Lahore and relocated to Chandigarh in 1956, the Panjab University originally served undivided Punjab of which Haryana was also a part till 1966.
After Haryana was carved out as a separate state with the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966, the university’s jurisdiction initially extended to Punjab, Haryana, and the Union Territory of Chandigarh.
After the reorganisation, 60 percent of the funding for the Panjab University came from the Centre, while Punjab and Haryana were jointly responsible for the 40 percent.
Haryana ran its regional centres under the PU; and its colleges were affiliated to the university.
However, Haryana’s involvement diminished over the decades. In the 1970s, the state established its own universities, effectively withdrawing from the PU.
According to an anecdote often narrated by Haryana politicians, at an event at the university in 1976, the then Haryana CM Bansi Lal was not accommodated on the dais, while the Punjab CM was. An enraged Bansi Lal stopped Haryana’s funding to the PU and affiliated Haryana colleges to Kurukshetra University.
But despite this, Haryana has periodically sought to reclaim its share in PU, arguing that the university remains a shared asset under the 1966 Act.
Section 72 of the Punjab Reorganisation Act, 1966, accessed by ThePrint, deals with general provisions of statutory corporations.
It says that the body corporate constituted under the central act, the state act or provincial act for the existing State of Punjab, shall continue to function in those areas where it was operating before the appointed day for the Act, subject to directions by the Centre from time to time, until another provision is made by law for the said body corporate.
Sub section 3 of the Section further adds that for the removal of doubt “it is hereby declared that the provisions of this section shall apply also to the Panjab University constituted under the Panjab University Act, 1947 (East Punjab Act 7 of 1947)….”
When did Haryana start attempts to reclaim its share?
After the BJP came to power in 2014, the then Panchkula BJP MLA Gian Chand Gupta wrote to Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar in 2016, requesting him to reclaim Haryana’s share in Panjab University, and affiliation of colleges from Panchkula, Yamunanagar and Ambala districts with the PU.
The state government later asked the state’s education department to take up the matter with the PU and also with the Centre.
The matter was taken up in the Northern Council meeting held at Amritsar in September 2023 under Amit Shah by Haryana, which was strongly opposed by Punjab, which in 2022 passed a resolution in the state assembly against any change in the status of the university.
Shah had told the two states to resolve the matter amicably.
On Haryana’s part, Khattar had emphasised Haryana’s willingness to contribute financially with 20 per cent share, since the university was passing through a financial challenge.
Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann, however, rejected any sharing arrangement.
After Shah’s meeting, the then Punjab Governor Banwarilal Purohit chaired a meeting attended by Haryana CM Manohar Lal Khattar and Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann.
However, both CMs came with contradictory statements after the meeting—Khattar showing optimism saying some positive steps have been taken towards restoring Haryana’s share in the PU, while Mann dismissed Khattar’s claim completely.
There has been no headway on this issue after that, and hence the issue has been listed on the agenda once again.
Talking to ThePrint on Monday, Gian Chand Gupta said that he would be happy if his efforts bore fruit at the Northern Zonal Council meeting.
“We want not just affiliation of colleges from Panchkula, Yamunanagar, and Ambala to Panjab University, but also (admission for) share of children from our state to Chandigarh colleges,” he added.
Gupta said that at present, 85 percent of the seats in Chandigarh colleges are filled by students who went to school in Chandigarh and only 15 percent were filled through the All-India quota.
“It is ironical that despite Panchkula being part of the tricity comprising Panchkula, Chandigarh and Mohali, our children have to go through a very tough competition to get admission to Chandigarh colleges,” said Gupta.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)