Haryana Assembly passes resolution seeking restoration of the state's share in Panjab University.

On Tuesday, the Haryana Assembly unanimously approved a motion urging the government to request the restoration of the state’s ownership stake in Chandigarh’s Panjab University. To safeguard the interests of the state’s students and residents, Haryana must receive its fair share of colleges that are affiliated with Panjab University, Chandigarh, according to Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar and Education Minister Kanwar Pal.

Congress MLA Geeta Bhukkal introduced the unofficial motion in the state assembly. “As we know, the Punjab Reorganisation Act of 1966 awarded the state of Haryana its stake in PU, and Haryana colleges and regional centres were affiliated with PU. “At the moment, Haryana has no share in the PU. The resolution stated that the Haryana government should present a plea to the Chancellor of the PU, who is also India’s Vice President, for the affiliation of institutions and for the giving of Haryana the proper share by altering the rule to restore the state’s share in PU.

The House advised the state government to safeguard the interests of Haryana residents and students by pursuing a share of affiliation with colleges at PU, Chandigarh. The state government confirmed that it will provide the PU its half of the funding. Later, Khattar informed reporters that the Panjab University’s portion of Haryana should be reinstated and that the state’s colleges that border Chandigarh should also be associated with this institution. In a recent meeting of the Northern Zonal Council, which was presided over by Union Home Minister Amit Shah, he claimed to have brought up the issue.

In a Civil Writ Petition titled Sangeeta Bhalla Vs. State of Punjab and others, the Punjab and Haryana High Court has issued an interim judgement dated May 19, 2022, directing the Center to consider converting PU into a central university, according to Education Minister Pal. In order for Haryana’s argument to be heard and for it to be included as a party in the lawsuit, the state of Haryana has filed an application with the high court, he added.

The minister stated that the state’s ownership of the PU was abolished on November 1, 1973, as a result of the Kurukshetra University Act being passed. At that time, there were 63 institutions spread over 18 districts in Haryana that were connected with Panjab University. He said that the administrations of Punjab, Haryana, and Chandigarh first split the Panjab University budget.

“The Centre is currently supporting 92% of the university’s expenses, which are being covered by the governments of Punjab and India. Approximately 168 colleges in the state of Punjab are connected with this university, but no colleges in the state of Haryana are associated with this university as a result of a notification issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs of the Government of India on November 1, 1973 “explained Pal. He said that on July 31, the chief minister sent a letter to the union’s minister of the interior to start the process of restoring Haryana’s ownership stake in Panjab University. Pal stated that if Haryana’s part of the university is restored, 42 colleges from Panchkula, Ambala, and Yamunanagar might be connected with Panjab University.

He added that the Haryana Vidhan Sabha Speaker has also written a letter to the Vice President of India and Union Home Minister on the issue.