Chandigarh, March 3, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Punjab Youth Congress President and Patiala Rural Assembly In-charge Mohit Mohindra today wrote a detailed open letter to the Hon’ble Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court Justice Sheel Nagu who also holds the position of Chancellor at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) in Patiala.
The letter urged him not to entertain the recent recommendation of the university’s Academic Council to change the name of the university to ‘National Law University’, omitting the name of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi. He said that doing so would set a wrong and dangerous precedent.
In his letter, Mohindra expressed deep concern over the resolution, stating that the proposal appeared to be politically motivated rather than administrative in nature. He emphasized that RGNUL was established through an Act passed by the Punjab Vidhan Sabha in 2006, and he reminded how the name was defined under the statute.
‘Are we questioning the collective wisdom of the lawmakers who drafted and passed the Act back then? More importantly, why are we doing it? What is the main objective behind this move? At a time when society faces serious economic and governance challenges, how can renaming an established university be a priority’, he stated.
Quoting the RGNUL Act, he threw light on certain facts ~ ‘The nomenclature of the University is defined by the RGNUL Act under Section 3, Clause 1.
The Academic and Executive Councils do not have the legal competence to alter the nomenclature of a university created by legislation. There is no clause permitting such a change, nor any procedure for the same. Such a change requires a formal legislative amendment and cannot be done via an internal resolution,’ he stated.
In his communication to the Chancellor, Mohindra clearly pointed out that both the Academic and Executive Council should instead focus on critical issues such as NAAC accreditation for the University which has been pending since 2020 and improving the university’s NIRF rankings, both of which are mandatory functions instead of engaging in politically sensitive renaming exercises which don’t even fall under their ambit.
Mohindra further highlighted that for nearly two decades, the university had functioned with bipartisan support and had earned national and international recognition under its existing brand name. He questioned the necessity and objective behind disturbing the established identity and legacy of a thriving institution.
He asked, ‘What about the university’s logo that is patented, degrees, alumni network, and about 3,000 graduates since its inception who carry the institution’s established identity. What happens to that legacy?’
Referring to the contributions of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, Mohindra noted that his leadership ushered in a telecom revolution, and youth empowerment through the lowering of the voting age from 21 to 18 years.
‘Erasing his name from an institution of higher learning reflects disregard for a visionary leader who transformed India. What message are we sending? That institutional identity can change with shifting political winds? That our history and legacy hold no significance?” he remarked.
Mohit Mohindra urged the Chancellor to reject the recommendation and protect the institutional stability, legal sanctity, and historical legacy of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law.
‘Institutions draw strength from continuity, legacy, and credibility. RGNUL stands as a symbol of bipartisan vision and academic excellence. It must remain so,’ he concluded.
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