Haryana Amends University Act to Replace 'Pandit' with 'Dada' in Institution's Name

The Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak (Amendment) Act, 2023, an Amendment Act, was officially published in the Haryana Government Gazette on May 18, 2023. This legislative instrument was enacted to modify the official nomenclature of the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak, as established under the principal Act of 2014. The Act received the assent of the Governor of Haryana on April 18, 2023, and subsequently came into force upon its publication. The primary effect of this amendment is the systematic replacement of the honorific "Pandit" with "Dada" wherever it appeared in the original statute governing the university. Specifically, the long title of the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak Act, 2014 (Haryana Act 24 of 2014), was amended, along with the short title of the principal Act. Furthermore, clause (m) of section 2 and sub-section (1) of section 3 of the principal Act also saw the substitution of the word "Pandit" with "Dada," thereby formally altering the university's name across key statutory references.

The legislative intent behind the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak (Amendment) Act, 2023, was to formally update the official designation of the university, reflecting a change in the honorific used for its namesake, Lakhmi Chand. Prior to this amendment, the statutory framework, specifically the Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak Act, 2014, consistently referred to the institution using the prefix "Pandit." The amendment addresses this by substituting "Pandit" with "Dada," thereby aligning the legal name with the revised preferred honorific. This targeted amendment resolves any potential discrepancies between the previous statutory naming convention and the current desired official title for the institution. The legislation provided: “In the long title of Pandit Lakhmi Chand State University of Performing and Visual Arts, Rohtak Act, 2014 (hereinafter called the principal Act), for the word PANDIT, the word DADA shall be substituted.” This change is a specific, focused alteration to an existing law, introducing no new rights or obligations beyond the modification of the university's name. The Act does not establish new enforcement mechanisms or timelines, as its scope is limited to this particular nomenclature adjustment within the existing legal framework of the university.

Keywords: Haryana, University Act, Amendment, Pandit Lakhmi Chand, Dada Lakhmi Chand, Rohtak, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Legislative Update, Name Change

Geo Tags: India, Haryana
District: Rohtak