No end to parties,but PU candidates have little to claim

Joint Secretary Sunny Mehta also claims to have been frugal in his spending — a mere Rs 3,400.

Thanks to the absence of a system to cross check the claims and take suitable action,the Panjab University authorities,as always,have accepted the “petty” expenditure incurred by the candidates.

“Student organisations spend lakhs in the run up to elections every year,and each time candidates end up reporting a far lesser amount on paper. It is nothing but a sham. Blame it on the absence of a proper system that students get away with such clear violations of Lyngdoh Commission,” rued a former member of the Student Council requesting anonymity.

As per the Lyngdoh guidelines,the university authorities are required to appoint impartial observers,who can be contacted when any candidate has any specific complaint or problem regarding the conduct of elections.

According to Dean Student Welfare (DSW),Professor Navdeep Goyal,explained,“It is difficult to monitor the expenditure,since the University calendar does not recognise candidates on the basis of student organisation to which he/she belongs,but on the basis of the department. Moreover,there is an immediate need to revise these guidelines framed by the Lyngdoh Commission.”

On the other hand,Ashok Goyal,member of the PU Senate said,“The entire exercise is futile,since the limits imposed are also not practical in the present time.” He added,“students elections in the university should not be considered in isolation with other elections in the country. We must take into account,that there is a blatant violation of the rules in the General Elections also,where even the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) who has all the paraphernalia to keep the process under check is unable do so.”

Missed the deadline! So what?

Meanwhile,caring two hoots for the rules,the Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) President,Chandan Rana,whose candidature has been under scanner since the declaration of results,is yet to submit the details,even two days after the deadline. All the candidates who participated in the elections are under obligation to submit his/her expenditure details within a fortnight.

Dismissing the significance of deadline,party President Manoj Lubana said,“It’s okay. Minor delay does not make a difference. He will submit the details on Monday.”

Giving an equally evasive response,when asked whether any action will be taken against Rana,the DSW said,“He will submit the details”. Refusing to comment further on the issue,the DSW only made a reference to the rules which mandate cancellation of candidature if he fails to submit the details within 15 days after the elections.