‘Colleges not polling stations’: What Rajasthan High Court told Election Commission over student elections

“However, such participatory processes must operate within well-defined parameters, ensuring that the pursuit of representative governance does not overshadow or undermine the paramount objective of educational institutions, namely, the uninterrupted advancement of academic discipline, excellence, and institutional harmony,” the court said.

However, court dismissed the plea saying the that a handful of students, without any representative character or authorisation, cannot claim to espouse the cause of lakhs of students across the state.

“Keeping in view the larger public interest, the academic ecosystem of universities, and the need to balance student participation with academic discipline, this court deems it appropriate to issue the following directions, which shall operate prospectively and without disturbing the adjudication of the present petitions,” the court said

Justice Sameer Jain directed the Election Commission while hearing plea for student poll in University of Rajasthan.

Directions to EC

• Universities, constituent colleges, and affiliated colleges imparting higher education shall not be requisitioned as polling stations, counting centres, storage facilities, or for any other election-related purpose, where such requisitioning is likely to impede teaching schedules, examinations, research activities, or academic administration.
• Election Commission of India shall, in advance, evolve and adopt alternate arrangements for the conduct of elections, including but not limited to the use of community halls, government offices, or other public infrastructure, so that institutions of higher education remain insulated from avoidable academic disruption.
• That election planning and logistical arrangements shall factor in the academic calendars of universities and colleges, particularly those operating under the semester system, to ensure minimal interference with classroom teaching, laboratory work, libraries, and examinations.

Directions to Universities and the State

• Constitute or maintain a duly notified Students’ Union Election Board / Committee, comprising responsible university officials, which shall be accountable for decisions relating to the conduct, postponement, or regulation of Students’ Union elections.
• Ensure that such a board affords a reasonable hearing to student representatives or petitioners who approach it with grievances relating to elections, thereby complying with the principles of natural justice.
• Maintain proper accounts of election-related fees collected from students and ensure that such amounts are utilised strictly for the purposes for which they are levied.

Directions to conduct students’ union elections

• The election calendar shall ordinarily be issued in the month of March of each academic year, so as to ensure predictability, preparedness, and minimal disruption to academic schedules.
• The election calendar, once issued, shall be scrupulously adhered to, and any departure therefrom shall be supported by cogent reasons recorded in writing. Administrative consistency and certainty are essential to uphold institutional credibility.
• The elections, where held, shall be conducted within the time framework contemplated under the governing statute and judicial precedents, unless exceptional circumstances, duly recorded in writing, necessitate deviation.
• The mode and manner of elections, whether direct, indirect or hybrid, shall be decided by the Vice-Chancellor or the designated Election Conducting Authority / Committee, strictly in consonance with the Rajasthan Universities Students’ Union Elections Guidelines and Rules, 2017 (RUSU Guidelines).
• The respondents shall bear in mind that Students’ Union elections are purely student-centric exercises aimed at representation, leadership development, and institutional participation.

Directions to students

• In the first instance, any grievance relating to non-conduct or scheduling of students’ Union elections shall be raised before the competent university authorities.
• The principle of audi alteram partem requires that the administration be allowed to consider and respond to student grievances.
• Directed to provide a meaningfull hearing to the petitioners and other aggrieved students regarding the non-conduct of Students’ Union elections. Such hearing is to be held on January 19, 2026, around 11:00 a.m., at a venue notified by the Vice-Chancellor/DSW.
• The aforesaid meeting shall be convened pursuant to a duly formulated agenda, which shall be prepared and circulated in advance by the respondent-University, clearly delineating the issues about the non-conduct and proposed conduct of Students’ Union Elections.
• The decision so arrived at shall thereafter be formally recorded and duly notified by the respondent-University, and shall be made applicable prospectively, in accordance with law.

Background

The petitioners have approached the court with a legal controversy concerning the implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations, particularly clause 6.4.2, which mandates the annual conduct of student union elections within six to eight weeks from the commencement of the academic session.

The plea alleging a non-compliance with these recommendations and failure to conduct student union elections for the academic session 2025-2026 by the State of Rajasthan and the University of Rajasthan, and seeking the conduct of the annual student union elections.