UP lifts ban on students’ union polls

The Mayawati Government had enforced the ban on September 7 last year, claiming that it was inciting criminal activities on the campus and spoiling the environment of the institutions.

“My government enforced the ban to check illegal and anti-social activities on the campus and the ban brought in drastic improvement in the academic environment of the institutions. Now, the academic session has been streamlined,” she told the House.

On October 8, the Mayawati had constituted a committee, headed by the Chief Secretary, to review all aspects of students’ elections. The CM told the House that the committee has, on March 4, in-principle recommended student union polls on Lyngdoh guidelines. She shared with the legislators some features highlighted by the committee, to be followed during the elections:

•Elections will be direct where only students are voting to elect their leader.

• Student not belonging to the institution will not take part in the election.

•There will be strict administrative action if an outsider is found taking part in the elections.

• Election process — from announcement of the election to the declaration of the result — will be completed within 10 days. This will include campaigning.