PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JUNE 20, 2023
2013
(JYST 30, 1945 SAKA)
EXTRAORDINARY
Published by Authority
CHANDIGARH, TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2023
(JYAISTHA 30, 1945 SAKA)
PUNJAB VIDHAN SABHA SECRETARIAT
NOTIFICATION
The 20th June, 2023
No. 13-PLA-2023/38.- The Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment)
Bill, 2023 is hereby published for general information under the proviso to rule
121 of the Rules of Procedure and Conduct of Business in the Punjab Vidhan
Sabha (Punjab Legislative Assembly):-
BILL NO. 13-PLA-2023
THE PUNJAB UNIVERSITIES LAWS (AMENDMENT) BILL,
2023
A
BILL
further to amend, the Punjabi University Act,1961, the Guru Nanak Dev
University Amritsar Act, 1969, the Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open
University Act, 2019, the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law,
Punjab Act, 2020, the I.K. Gujral Punjab Technical University Act, 1996, the
Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University Act, 2014, the Shaheed
Bhagat Singh State University Act, 2021, the Sardar Beant Singh State
University Act, 2021, the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Act, 1998,
the Guru Ravidas Ayurved University, Punjab Act, 2009, the Maharaja Bhupinder
( 2013 )
2014 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JUNE 20, 2023
(JYST 30, 1945 SAKA)
Singh Punjab Sports University Act, 2019 and the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary
and Animal Sciences University Act, 2005.
BE it enacted by the State Legislature of the State of Punjab in the
Seventy-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:-
1. (1) This Act may be called the Punjab Universities Laws (Amendment)
Short title and commencement.
Act, 2023.
(2) It shall come into force on and with effect from the date of its
publication in the Official Gazette.
2. In the Punjabi University Act, 1961, for section 9, the following section
shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 9 of Punjab Act 35 of 1961.
"9. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
3. In the Guru Nanak Dev University Amritsar Act, 1969, for section 9, the
following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 9 of Punjab Act 21 of 1969.
"9. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
4. In the Jagat Guru Nanak Dev Punjab State Open University Act, 2019,
for section 9, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 9 of Punjab Act 19 of 2019.
"9. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
5. In the Sri Guru Teg Bahadur State University of Law, Punjab Act, 2020,
in section 7, for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted,
namely:-
Amendment of section 7 of Punjab Act 12 of 2020.
"(1) The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his office, be the
Chancellor of the University.".
6. In the I. K. Gujral Punjab Technical University Act, 1996, for section 9,
the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 9 of Punjab Act 1 of 1997.
"9. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
7. In the Maharaja Ranjit Singh Punjab Technical University Act, 2014, for
section 9, the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 9 of Punjab Act 5 of 2015.
"9. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JUNE 20, 2023
2015
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8. In the Shaheed Bhagat Singh State University Act, 2021, for section 8,
the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 8 of Punjab Act 10 of 2021.
"8. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
9. In the Sardar Beant Singh State University Act, 2021, for section 8, the
following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 8 of Punjab Act 9 of 2021.
"8. Chancellor.- The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his
office, be the Chancellor of the University.".
10. In the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences Act, 1998, in section 13,
for sub-section (1), the following section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 13 of Punjab Act 18 of 1998.
"(1) The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his office, be the
Chancellor of the University.".
11. In the Guru Ravidas Ayurved University, Punjab Act, 2009, in section 11,
for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 11 of Punjab Act 4 of 2010.
"(1) The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his office, be the
Chancellor of the University.".
12. In the Maharaja Bhupinder Singh Punjab Sports University Act, 2019, in
section 10, for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be substituted,
namely:-
Amendment of section 10 of Punjab Act 11 of 2019.
"(1) The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his office, be the
Chancellor of the University.".
13. In the Guru Angad Dev Veterinary and Animal Sciences University Act,
2005, in section 10, for sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be
substituted, namely:-
Amendment of section 10 of Punjab Act 16 of 2005.
"(1) The Chief Minister of Punjab shall, by virtue of his office, be the
Chancellor of the University.".
2016 PUNJAB GOVT. GAZ. (EXTRA), JUNE 20, 2023
(JYST 30, 1945 SAKA)
STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS
The State Government has established and incorporated 13 State Universities
under the administrative control of the Departments of Higher Education, Tech-
nical Education & Industrial Training, Medical Education & Research, Agri-
culture, Animal Husbandry and Sports & Youth Services for raising the quality
of higher education in the State. The Governor of the State of Punjab is the
Chancellor of all the State Universities by virtue of his post. The constituting
Acts of each University have bestowed some statutory functions and duties
upon the Chancellor of the University. The Governor holds a constitutional
post and has to discharge various constitutional functions as enshrined under
the Constitution of India.
The Government of India constituted Commission on Centre-State Relations,
under the chairmanship of Justice Madan Mohan Punchhi,, has elaborated on
this aspect of the position of the Governor, relating to administration of educa-
tion in States and the Governor's functioning as the Chancellor of Universities.
The Commission has stated that in order for the Governor to be able to dis-
charge his/her Constitutional obligations fairly and impartially, he/she should
not be burdened with positions and powers which are not envisaged by the
Constitution and which may lead the office to controversies or public criticism.
The Commission also observed that the Governor should not be assigned func-
tions casually under any Statute.
It is therefore considered necessary and imperative that the constituting Acts
of the Universities be amended accordingly so as to make the Chief Minister
of the State of Punjab, the Chancellor of all State Universities for the purposes
of the said Acts.
The Bill has been prepared to achieve the above objective.
There is no financial implication involved in giving effect to the provisions of
the Bill.
HARJOT SINGH BAINS
Higher Education Minister, Punjab