Panjab University Exams Put on Hold Amid Student Protest Over Senate Polls

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In a significant development, Panjab University has postponed its upcoming exams scheduled from November 18 to 20 due to a student boycott call. The decision was made after students, who have been protesting for over a week, threatened to disrupt the exams unless their demand for announcing the Senate polls schedule is met. The students, who have been holding a sit-in protest near the Vice Chancellor's office, have been seeking the university's Senate polls schedule, which has been pending for over a year. The protesters, who have been supported by several political parties and farmers' organizations, claim that the university's governing bodies are being restructured, which could compromise its autonomy. The university's authorities have assured the students that the Senate polls schedule will be announced soon, and the revised exam dates will be communicated in due course. Students have been advised to regularly check the university's official channels for further updates. The student protest, which began over a week ago, has gained significant momentum, with several prominent politicians, including Sukhbir Singh Badal, the president of the Shiromani Akali Dal, extending their support to the students. Badal, who studied at the university, has warned that the central government's attempt to restructure the university's governing bodies could set a dangerous precedent and compromise the autonomy of other institutions in the state. The university's decision to postpone the exams is seen as a significant concession to the students' demands, and it remains to be seen whether the students will call off their protest once the Senate polls schedule is announced. The university's authorities have assured the students that they will take all necessary steps to ensure that the exams are held smoothly once the situation returns to normal.