student elections Archives - DU Beat - Delhi University's Independent Student Newspaper

In a press release dated January 3, 2018, several students’ organisations have mutually agreed upon a student resolution that was passed in Youthquake. The resolution deals with recommendations of electoral reforms, Students’ Right Act, the age of contesting elections, and unemployment allowance.

In a resolution passed by the students’ organisations in Youthquake on January 3, 2018, the rationalisation of the student elections and the formation of an independent Election Commission were seen as legitimate demands in the light of the arbitrary decision-making procedures of college administrations. The implementation of Lyngdoh Committee guidelines by the Ministry of Human Resource Development on an order of the Supreme Court adds weight to the demand for a separate legislation to deal with student elections in the country.

The students’ organisations have raised the demand for a separate institution under the Election Commission for conducting student elections and a complaint redressing mechanism. Such an independent Election Commission should be headed by a retired Chief Election Commissioner and should consist of retired members from the judiciary and administration, who possess impeccable records. Calls were made for compulsory and direct elections, revision of election expenditure especially the social media expenditure limit to be set in, the online voting system to restrict violence on students during elections, and reservation of seats for women candidates.

The Charter for Students’ Rights Act, comprising of the Fundamental Rights of Students and Directive Principles for universities and colleges was also laid down, which should be complied with by the university administration at all times. Additionally, a demand for a three-tier enforcement mechanism was also made, and the students’ organisations wanted the age of contesting elections to be brought down to 18 years.

“The Narendra Modi Government promised 2 crore jobs at the time of elections and made promises for unemployment allowances as well. But today, what we can see is that the credibility of universities is decreasing and democratic spaces for dissent are also being curbed by the institutions. Thereby, we have raised demands for the creation of an organisation/body along the lines of the National Commission for Women (NCW) or National Commission for Backward Classes (NCBC) to address the specific concerns of students- National Students’ Commission,” said Neeraj Mishra, National Media In-Charge of National Students’ Union of India (NSUI).

Several Students’ Organisations like the AISF, SFI, Samajwadi Chhatra Sabha, Naga Students’ Union, PUSU, Jharkhand Chhatra Sangh, Joint Action Commission-BHU, Swaraj Abhiyan, Panjab Students’ Union, Telangana Students’ Union etc. have mutually agreed upon the resolution. The Action Commission of the resolution consisted of J&K Students’ Union, YSR Students’ Union, All India Students’ Association (AISA), DUSU (Delhi University Students’ Union), AMU, SOPU, DURU etc.

Feature Image Credits: New Indian Express

Oorja Tapan

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It’s election time again and all Delhi University political parties are coming out of hibernation. They really wanted to make a mark and what a way they chose.

On 31st August, a girl from Indraprastha College for Women was molested in North Campus. The incident happened in the afternoon on the road opposite Daulat Ram College when a DUSU rally passed by. The girl was in a rickshaw when she got caught in the middle of the procession, was pulled down the rickshaw and harassed by several men.

While this incident happened, several policemen were on duty and did absolutely nothing to help her. One of her close friends described this behavior of the police as preposterous and inhuman. When the university authorities were contacted the first question asked was whether the girl was wearing decent clothes or not. “I was shocked to hear them ask me this question and felt like strangling them through the phone” said another of her classmates.

On 1st September, the college union and several of her close friends along with the victim went to the Commonwealth Sports Complex in North Campus to talk to the Vice Chancellor. The VC had already heard of the event as it went viral on the social network and denied entry to each and every student of IP College. Special orders were given to the guard to not allow the students inside. The students waited outside for half an hour. Finally when the principal Ms. Babli Saraf intervened, the students were allowed inside and given a chance to speak their demands. The students wanted action to be taken on the behavior of the policemen and wanted all such rallies banned. The VC promised to look into the matter and insured that some action would be taken.

Later on the same day, the proctor issued an order banning all rallies and demonstrations in North Campus. Also, not more than four people will be allowed to canvas the area at a time. This probably must be the fastest that DU authorities have responded after filing of a complaint. One of the contesting parties ABVP however, was quoted saying that it will “go ahead with a rally in North Campus in favour of women’s safety despite the ban.”

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