SC notice to JNUSU on Lyngdoh guidelines

The Jawaharlal University Students’ Union (JNUSU) election process received a jolt on Tuesday when it received a notice from the Supreme Court seeking an explanation on why Lyngdoh Committee’s recommendations are not being adhered to during the students’ body election.

The notice was sent to the JNU administration and JNUSU, following a petition by Gopal Subramanium, additional solicitor general. JNUSU officials said the notice seeks explanation on three issues — why the recommended age limit has not been adhered to, on candidates with criminal record or acts of indiscipline and repeat candidates.

The election commission immediately convened an allparty meeting and is seeking legal opinion before facing the court on Friday morning. Meanwhile, the JNU administration too forwarded the notice to its legal cell. Ram Adhikari Kumar, rector, JNU said: ‘‘Our legal cell would reply to the notice on October 24. But JNU administration as a tradition doesn’t get involved in the students’ election process.”

Sandeep Singh, this year’s repeat presidential candidate from AISA said: ‘‘All parties are with the election commission which is going to place its case on behalf of the JNU students’ community. But we have to bear in mind that Lyngdoh Committees’ recommendations were primarily to arrest money and muscle power during students’ elections which JNU is free from. Also, the committee in its report praised JNU. And tempering of this ‘model’ would kill the very sanctity and vibrancy of the JNU elections.’’ All students’ organisation are now waiting for the Friday hearing’s decision as almost all are fielding repeat candidates.

According to Hafeezur Rahman, who is contesting for the fourth time, ‘‘JNU student community is strongly against the Lyngdoh recommendations as the report itself praised JNU as a role model. So to implement it in JNU is illogical.”
Source:- The Times of India 23 Oct. 08 P. 11 New Delhi
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