India, July 25 -- As states across India struggle to implement National Education Policy-2020, Punjab faces a far greater challenge: the academic leaders responsible for implementation are virtually absent from the scene. Over 50% government colleges are functioning without regular principals - confirmed by the education minister on the floor of the House - and a similar, even graver vacuum exists at the top at many universities, private and government-aided colleges. This requires urgent policy attention. Punjab's performance in school education, as recognised by the NITI Aayog Education Quality Report and the education ministry's performance grading index (PGI 2.0) for 2024-25, raises hopes that sustained effort could produce a genuine turnaround. While all stakeholders deserve congratulations, the weaknesses of Punjab's higher education must be addressed with equal urgency. Over the years, successive governments - cutting across party lines - have failed to give adequate attention to higher education, resulting in significant deterioration. Unfortunately, the policymakers seem unaware of the decline of academic leadership. The 'chair', saddled with enormous responsibility, presents a picture of 'hollowness' that must be corrected before it is too late. The role of academic leaders differs fundamentally from that of corporate leaders. Academic leaders focus primarily on the creation of human resources, unlike corporate leaders for whom profit maximisation takes precedence. Their role in providing vision, direction and strategic decision-making is unparalleled. NEP 2020, Section 19, defines vice chancellors and principals as merit-selected, accountable administrator-scholars required to be attuned to constitutional values, institutional vision, social commitment and the ability to engage constructively with all stakeholders. Historically, the positions of VCs and principals in Punjab carried a status comparable to the highest bureaucratic officials. During British times, the principals of government colleges were members of the Indian Education Service, as prestigious as the Indian Civil Service. Over the years, political interference, lack of clear administrative policies and deviation from UGC recommendations have collectively diminished the standing of these positions and, with it, the quality of higher education. Of Punjab's 36 universities, only seven rank among the top 100 in the NIRF Rankings 2025, and only five appear in the QS World Rankings 2025 top 1,000, with only IIT Ropar ranking among the top 500. In government colleges, 26% of sanctioned teaching posts remain vacant, and 1,158 assistant professor appointments made by the previous government were nullified by the Supreme Court for non-compliance with UGC regulations. The crisis is no less severe in non-government institutions. In December 2025, Panjab University, Chandigarh issued show-cause notices to 42 affiliated colleges for not appointing regular principals. Successive governments have reduced grants to private aided colleges from 95% to75% while increasing financial liabilities, and recently established private colleges have largely remained unregulated, contributing to declining academic standards. The appointment of VCs has come under public scrutiny due to delays, failure to follow UGC regulations, gubernatorial interference and attempts to make the chief minister the chancellor of state universities, creating a perception that political appointments have prevailed over the merit-based selections mandated by NEP. The policy governing the appointment of college principals appears equally confusing. The UGC Regulations-2018 require a minimum of 15years of teaching and research experience, the rank of associate professor and an academic performance indicator score of 110. Punjab's Recruitment Rules of2015, however, provide for contractual appointments of three years at Rs1,18,500 for undergraduate colleges and Rs 1,42,500 for postgraduate colleges, without allowances, directly contradicting the UGC mandate of a five-year tenure, extendable by another five. Principals appointed after April 2023 in grant-in-aid institutions must retire at 58, even as subordinate faculty continue until 60 - a dichotomy that renders the post financially and professionally unattractive, perpetuating vacancies and side-lining NEP and NAAC priorities. Comparison with better-performing states is revealing. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala rank ahead of Punjab on autonomous colleges, accredited institutions, nationally and internationally ranked universities, higher education regulation and per-youth spending. What distinguishes these states is not merely higher expenditure but stronger institutional mechanisms governing leadership appointments and academic autonomy. The road to recovery is demanding but not impossible. The Punjab government should align its principal appointment policy with UGC Regulations, 2018, replacing contractual arrangements with statutory five-year tenures and proper pay scales. The retirement age anomaly must be corrected. A statutory state higher education council - mandated by NEP 2020and already established by Kerala, Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh - should be constituted without delay. The VC and principal appointments must be governed by transparent, merit-based search processes insulated from political interference. Leadership development programmes for college principals, equivalent to those provided to school principals, must be introduced immediately. All teaching vacancies must be filled through regular appointments in strict compliance with UGC norms. Punjab's success in school education proves that educational transformation is possible when political will, administrative focus and accountability come together. Education is not merely about magnificent buildings and costly equipment. It is about building character, which is more durable and constructive for the nation. If Punjab wishes to reclaim its place among India's leading educational states, it must first fill the hollow chairs that today stand at the apex of its colleges and universities....