Panjab University seeks Chandigarh's approval to raise wall

Panjab University in Chandigarh plans to raise the height of its boundary wall but needs approval from the Chandigarh Administration to do so. The current walls vary in height, with some sections being lower due to nearby roads and cycling tracks. The need for this change has become more urgent after recent trespassing incidents during the Holi festival. Videos showed students and outsiders climbing over the walls, particularly at damaged points near Gate No. 3. Despite restrictions, many outsiders have been able to enter the campus, raising safety concerns. Some trespassers were caught by security and handed over to the police. The university aims to increase the wall's height to seven feet and add two to three feet of barbed wire on top. Although there is already some barbed wire, it is damaged in several places. Vikram Singh, the Chief of University Security, acknowledged the issue and stated that they would follow the proper procedures for the proposed changes. This is not the first attempt to enhance security at the university. In the past, there have been bureaucratic delays in raising wall heights and improving surveillance systems. In 2019, following a molestation incident, the university proposed similar security measures, including CCTV cameras. A request for permission to improve security was also made to the administration in 2024.