The Ranchi University is gearing up to submit its counter affidavit in the Jharkhand High Court describing the reasons for delay in holding the student union elections. The step will come after the National Student Union of India (NSUI), filed a petition in the High Court stating that the poll dates are against the set guidelines of Apex Court and lyngdoh Committee recommendations, under which the varsity is mandated to conduct the student union elections every year.
In the next hearing scheduled on December 8, the legal Cell Officer of the university will keep the university position with ‘valid’ reasons for delay in conducting elections. At present, student unions do have any representation in the Syndicate committee of RU. As per the guidelines, it is mandatory for the university to conduct election every year for fair representation of students in the university core committees.
NSUI member Abhinav Bhagat has filed a petition in Jharkhand HC asking the university to give valid reason for breaching the set guidelines of Supreme Court and lyngdoh Committee rules. As mentioned in the Committee’s guideline all the varsities are mandated to complete the student union election procedure within 8 weeks (approximately two months), after the commencement of new academic year. Here, at RU, the session initiates from August and continues until September next year. All election procedure must get complete at RU by the end of October every year.
“The University has to summit one affidavit with all reasons for breaching the set guidelines of lyngdoh Committee recommendations. Mid-term election often creates hassle, so far none of the student union wing has completed the full one year tenure here. Every time university officials just give us assurance to follow the academic calendar and regularly conducts the student union poll but the result is same all the time,” said, Abhinav Bhagat.
On the other hand, election preparation is in full swing and just in a week to go all college students will get opportunity to select their representatives to fulfill their long pending demands as equal participation in syndication committee of student body will curb major issues present in colleges. Now, most of the student union leaders are busy campaigning at various colleges keeping different agendas to lure voters for the upcoming student union election scheduled after a gap of nine years.
“Student election will be conducted irrespective of anything this year. On December 8, the varsity will submit its valid reasons for not conducting the election annually or delay in conducting the student union election. Counter Affidavit is prepared by the lawyer and RU legal cell officer,” said, Dean Student Welfare, Dr. SC Gupta.
Notably, most of the other student union groups termed the action of filing the petition mere a publicity stunt to gain popularity and to debar the varsity for conducting the upcoming election yet again sidelining the students’ welfare.
“After facing the defeat at all the four State owned universities, this is a dirty trick of NSUI members to cancel the election. The step is against the student welfare. It is high time and now only fair representation can sort out major student issues elected by the students,” added, ABVP, State Convener, Atal Pandey.