Students’ council: Poll still distant dream for many Panjab University-affiliated colleges

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 26

There are over 100 colleges affiliated with Panjab University across Chandigarh and Punjab, but only a few play host to the students’ council elections.

The university, which is scheduled to witness the next Panjab University Campus Students’ Council (PUCSC) elections on September 5, has very little to offer to its affiliated colleges, especially those located in Punjab, due to ‘restrictions’ by the state government.

Besides the campus elections, the students’ council elections will be held in six private colleges and six government colleges in Chandigarh. While 12 colleges in Chandigarh witness the elections, over 100 colleges (government, private, self-financed and aided) in Punjab are debarred from this exercise. Sources claimed that the state past and present governments in Punjab bother less over the issue and on the top of it, the university authorities also prefer to look the other way.

The past

In 2018, the Punjab Government had lifted the 34-year-old ban on students’ body elections in the state, a decision which was imposed in 1984 when militancy-driven turmoil had peaked following Operation Bluestar.

The then Chief Minister, Capt Amarinder Singh, had followed Haryana, which had lifted the 22-year-old ban on students’ body elections in the state at the same time.

During the 2017 state Assembly elections in Punjab, the Congress had included the revival of student bodies’ elections in its manifesto. “The election on the Panjab University campus and its colleges was resumed in 1997. In 2018, many principals objected to elections in their colleges for the simple fear of indiscipline,” said a university faculty member seeking anonymity.

Another faculty member added, “Conducting elections in Chandigarh is convenient and secure for the university authorities. The entire election process is conducted under the supervision of Chandigarh Police and paramilitary forces. There’s no dearth of infrastructure in the local colleges also. The colleges also fulfil the criteria of having ample staff strength to conduct these elections.”

Students’ representation from other states

While the Punjab Government continues to keep ignoring the students’ elections, most of the students’ groups here are represented by other states — mainly Punjab and Haryana. In recent past, most of the students’ election candidates belonged to the neighbouring states and drew ample support from their regional base. Not only the candidates, but voters (students) from other states fully participate. “Majority of the students’ groups focus on gathering votes from hostels (on campus and colleges) for the simple reason that students from other states like to cast their vote. The state governments (both Punjab and Haryana) may not conduct elections, but the mandate of students’ council election in Chandigarh relies on voters from other states. In recent trends, we have seen an increase in involvement of student voters from faraway states (Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Manipur and others), but the majority are from Haryana and Punjab,” a student leader added.

"This is a democratic right of the students and elections should be held in Punjab-based colleges affiliated with the university. Not only this university, but the other state universities in Amritsar and Patiala should also witness students’ body elections," said Rajat Sandhir, PU fellow.