PU tightens noose around student parties' expenditure

With polls approaching, Panjab University has decided to check reckless spending by student bodies. The varsity will keep a record of their expenditure. Student parties in PU are notorious for reckless spending on tents and decorations in the run-up to student polls.

With polls approaching, Panjab University has decided to check reckless spending by student bodies. The varsity will keep a record of their expenditure.

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Student parties in PU are notorious for reckless spending on tents and decorations in the run-up to student polls. Therefore, to regulate their expenditure, the varsity has decided to strictly implement the Lyngdoh guidelines on student elections, according to which no candidate can spend over Rs 5,000 on campaigning. A candidate found violating this code could even face the risk of being disqualified, said university officials.

PU will also keep a record of the items used by candidates, such as their tents, tables and chairs, for poll campaigning and their average expenditure.

In addition, this year, PU authorities have decided to allocate tents to individual candidates, a change from their earlier practice of allotting tents to student parties.

"A tent could be set up on a rent of Rs 200 per day, a chair will cost Rs 10 (a day) and a table, Rs 20. The tents will be needed for at least eight days. Therefore, the average expenditure for a candidate would come to Rs 2,500," he said, adding that even if a candidate claimed items claimed to be donated to the candidate would be added to his poll expenses.

Dean, student welfare (DSW), Navdeep Goyal confirmed the university's move.

"The idea is to make sure students contest polls by spending within the limits mentioned in the Lungdoh guidelines," Goyal added.