Date:26/04/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/04/26/stories/2008042659060400.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Campus elections may be revived

HYDERABAD: Elections to Students Unions on the campuses across the State might be revived after a long gap of two decades. The issue came up for discussion at the meeting of the A.P. State Council of Higher Education (APSCHE) recently and the opinion was divided on the issue.

APSCHE Chairman K.C. Reddy agreed that the issue came up for discussion but no decision was taken to conduct the elections. “We only advised the Universities that elections can be held as per the guidelines issued by the Supreme Court in this regard and following the recommendations of the J.M. Lyngdoh Committee,” he said. It is for the Universities to take a decision.

Long-pending demand

Student unions affiliated to various political parties and working independently have been demanding elections on the campuses for a long time so that they get a representative role in the academic and a few administrative issues. Elections on the campus were cancelled in the late 80s when violence became an integral part of the poll process and led to the murder of some candidates. Student Unions like SFI, AISF and PDSU have welcomed the elections stating that it was a long pending demand.

“Campus atmosphere has also vitiated with students divided on caste, religion and regional lines and this could have been prevented with regular elections,” said Nannuri Narsi Reddy, president of Telugu Nadu Students’ Federation (TNSF). As of now elections are held only in the Central University in the State. They have been successful in keeping violence at bay.

However, the Vice-Chancellors don’t seem to be too enthusiastic with the idea. “University campuses are relatively free of violence now. The absence of elections has not affected the students in any way since students groups were representing their cases,” said a senior teacher wishing anonymity. “It is not the elections that are unwelcome but the inevitable politicisation and violence,” he said. A senior official of the Government also confirmed that VCs are hesitant. The issue needs to be discussed thoroughly before a final decision is taken.