Chandigarh: The ongoing delay in the Panjab University Teachers’ Association (Puta) elections has sparked a fresh controversy, with a group of faculty members announcing an extraordinary general body meeting (GBM) on Oct 15 to discuss a revised poll schedule and the appointment of a returning officer.In a letter dated Oct 2, Prof Parveen Goyal said the requisition for the meeting was signed by over 40 faculty members and submitted on Sept 18, followed by reminders on Sept 22 and 26. The requisitionists said the Puta leadership failed to convene the meeting within the stipulated period, which expired on Oct 2.Under the Puta constitution, an extraordinary general meeting can be requisitioned by at least 40 members. If the executive committee does not convene the meeting within 15 working days, the requisitionists are entitled to call it themselves after giving 10 days’ notice.The proposed GBM will take up two key agenda items: announcing a revised schedule for the 2026-27 PUTA elections and appointing a returning officer. Any other matter permitted by the house may also be discussed.The development comes amid concerns over the delay in the election process. As per Puta bye-laws, the election schedule is to be notified within 15 days of the university reopening after the summer break and polling held within 45 days. Panjab University reopened on July 13 this year.Puta president Amarjit Singh Naura had earlier attributed the delay to procedural issues related to membership collection through salary deductions and finalisation of the membership list. The matter is now set to be debated at the proposed GBM.
