Ranchi University (RU) is rethinking on conducting the much awaited student union election according to the previously announced dates between September and November. It is due to the suggestions of participant student unions who feel the declared electoral dates are illogical as the university and its colleges will remain closed from September 29 to October 30 on the occasion of Durga Puja holidays.
RU Syndicate’s Sub-Committee framed for student’s union election under RU Pro Vice Chancellor (Pro VC) Dr M Raziuddin as member secretary will be deciding the final dates for the respective election on Tuesday.
“We have received petitions of various student unions like Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and National Student’s Union of India (NSUI) seeking for change in the elections dates of university and colleges. A meeting over considering their demands is planned on Tuesday after which we will be in a position to take a final decision,” University’s Dean of Students Welfare (DSW) Dr Satish Chandra Gupta who is also a member of the Sub Committee said.
Following the norms of University Grants Commission’s lyngdoh Committee for student union election, RU had notified the schedule of conducting election at the college and post graduate level through direct mode from September 4 to October 9. Meanwhile, at the university level it was decided through indirect mode from October 11 to November 1.
Five positions namely president, vice president, secretary, joint secretary and treasurer are to be selected at every college. Similarly five mentioned positions are to be elected at the university level.
The Syndicate members explained the format of electoral process to principals of the constituent colleges and heads of post graduate departments on Monday. “The election will be done through ballot paper. Principals and respective professors represening college or PG departments will be the returning officers. We have given them a copy of Supreme Court’s recommendation on lyngdoh Committee and asked to implement those,” Gupta added.
According to norms, students of Part 1 and Part 2 can contest in colleges whereas in university first year post graduate students can contest.
Hundreds of students under the banner of ABVP and NSUI gheraoed and locked the university gates on Monday to force in their demands. later in the day the two student bodies met Pro VC and handed their list of demands.
ABVP’s secretary for election, Yagywalk Shukla said they have demanded postponing of election dates from October to November, to conduct second phase of voting within15 days after the first phase and to conduct the elections during college working days.
NSUI members have demanded participation of all college students of RU in the university election, confirmed sources. The Jharkhand Chatra Sangh has opposed RU plan of following lyngdoh Committee rules.