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Students from Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College (DDUC) started a signature campaign against violence and demanded to not have elections this year. As a result, DDUC will not witness students’ union polls this year.

Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College (DDUC), located in the Dwarka locality of West Delhi, will not witness students’ union polls this year. On Wednesday, 4th September, a college official said that this year there will be no student polls in the college. Wednesday was also the last day of filing the nomination of candidates for the polls. Reportedly, this decision has been taken by the college authorities due to the requests of students made in this regard.

The underlying factor behind this decision can also be attributed to a violent clash between two opposing parties involved in student politics in DDUC this past week.

As reported by India Today, two factions of the college leveled allegations against each other and indulged in violence on the college campus. One faction accused the other of beating up its members, following which the police were informed and asked to take necessary action. In response, female members of the opposing faction alleged that they were manhandled by the members of the group. The official also added that both the factions sat on a protest on the college campus demanding justice. No disciplinary action was taken against any of the accused or miscreants concerning this matter.

Following this, a group of students, who were not from any of the factions, started a signature campaign against violence and demanded that there be no elections, the official said. They submitted a list of the signatories to the administration, following which the disciplinary committee of the college decided to cancel the student union polls altogether.

A student of the college, on the condition of anonymity, was quoted as supporting the move to not conduct student union polls this year, considering the disruption of classes and unwarranted violence on campus that election campaigning entails.

Feature Image Credits: Shiksha

Bhavya Pandey

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Lately across the country, in the absence of a notable opposition decisions of the establishment, students have taken it upon themselves to stand up to the authoritarian policies. Lately, the spur of student movements in the JNU, DU, University of Hyderabad and other campuses has also spiked up the enthusiasm in other Universities where student politics have been suspended for long for the revival of Student Politics and the demand of Student Union elections. On Thursday, students of Jamia Milia Islamia University staged a protest march and submitted a memorandum to the Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmad demanding the restoration of the Student Union and demand of elections.

Eleven years back, the University had suspended the Student Union on the account of student leaders interfering with the administrative process of the University in 2006. The Union was disbanded after a scuffle broke out between the union president and the proctor over the former having a say in the allotment of hostel seats, which the university was not willing to agree to. Later in the year 2011, Hameed Ur Rahman, a student approached Delhi High Court for the matter. Najeeb Jung, who was the VC during that period told the court that the environment was not conducive for polls.

Recently the students have formed a Joint Action Committee (JAC) with members from various students bodies’ including the National Students’ Union of India (NSUI), Chhatra Yuva Sangharsh Samiti, All India Students’ Association and Jamia Students’ Forum to raise the demand for a Union. Speaking to a major national daily, students of the JAC said that they would “resort to democratic means of protest” in case the varsity does not meet the deadline of announcing a date for the polls.

However, the administration on receiving the memorandum said that the university had no objections to the formation of a students’ union but it could not give the go-ahead as the matter was sub judice. Talat Ahmad, the vice chancellor of the University who is known to be personally in favour of having a student’s union said, “When the matter is in court, I cannot take decisions that would end up in contempt of court.”

The University which has a rich past of student activism during the freedom movement remains an environment devoid of a students’ voice today.

Interestingly, Jamia has a strong union of teachers and non-teaching staff.

Image Credits: jamiajournal.com

 

Srivedant Kar

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The Student Union Elections in Rajdhani College witnessed 36 nominations for the only 2 posts of Central Councillor.

This year, the students of Rajdhani College actively participated in the elections. The desire for the post went so bizarre that 36 candidates ended up filing nominations for the only 2 posts of Central Councillor that the college union has.

The college witnessed a huge protest on 2nd September against the Principal and election committee members as students in big numbers gathered in front of the college gate restricting any entry or exit, to raise their voices against the cancellation of about 30 nominations for the post Central Councillor. College guards doing their righteous duty held the gate and controlled the mob as far as possible. The situation soon became eccentric and the Police men showed up to established the decorum.

It was after hours that the members of the staff finally made an appearance and justified the procedure and decision of choosing a particular nominee and certainly assured that no unjustified candidate will be allowed to contest the elections. They also mentioned that they’ll be reconsidering all the applications just to make sure that all the worthy and deserving make it to the list.

Soon the classes resumed and nobody was penalised though, students actively participating in protest were given a warning.

The college staff avoiding ambiguity for students made a wise decision by being very harsh with the selection process of nominees. The criteria looked upon while selecting a particular candidate consisted attendance, academic records, behaviour of the student with teachers and students, to name a few. Last year 19 students contested for the two posts. The number shrunk down to 8 in spite of more nominations.

It was finally on 9th September that the results were announced with Avnish Malik, B.Sc. (Honours) Chemistry, Third year, and Sahil Antil, B.A. (Honours) History, First year, ended up winning the elections.

Hardik Kakar

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Image Source: indianexpress.com

Q. Congratulations on being elected the President of the Students’ Union! What piqued your interest in student politics?

When I was pursuing my primary education, I used to admire my seniors who worked for school events. Everything about it mesmerized me and the whole structure of managing work inspired me to take responsibilities. I am inspired by Gandhi ji’s words, “Be the change you want to see.” These words have motivated me to get up and take charge. After my school when I joined college my interest was multiplied when I saw immense opportunities here. So yes, the wings of power and roots of responsibility inspired me and increased my interest.

How does it feel to become the President of the college?

It’s a proud moment for me. In my first year this was an impossible thought for me but having really acquired this position, the whole scenario has changed and the extent to which I have become a confident person is colossal. But rank does not only confer privilege or give power, it also imposes great responsibility. So right now I have mixed feelings of happiness and responsibility.

What is the first thing you’ll be working on as the President of the Students’ Union?

There are lots of things which I want to work on. But for now I have thought of working on two main aspects. First, making cultural events more innovative and participative for all the students and secondly, making various processes and procedures smooth.

Being a president is a hard task- how do you plan on balancing your presidential responsibilities and academics?

Maintaining a balance is really important and difficult at the same time. But a leader has to do it and also knows how to do it. I will not plan long time tables and schedules but always try to give equal time to everything.  Not just to academics and extracurriculars,  I will try and do my best in all aspects of life. As they say, “Life will always get busy, make time to do the things you love.”

What do you think makes a Union successful, how do you plan to achieve it?

According to me, team-work makes a Union a hit or a flop. When a number of minds work together, they create an innovative success formula. I will motivate my team and will try to show them direction and a way in which their capabilities and talents can be utilized. I expect three things from my team, participation, team-work and enthusiasm to work for the betterment of the college.

 

Kritika Narula

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