The Allahabad High Court on Friday issued directive to all the universities of the State to follow the order of the apex court accepting the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations with regard to students’ union elections.
Coming down heavily on the agitation of students in several universities of the state, the court observed, “The agitation of students in several universities in the state of UP appears to be the result of some misgivings that these recommendations are not to be followed until the ordinances/recommendations are made in this regard. Now, these recommendations have been accepted by the Supreme Court and are binding on all universities across the country. The directions of the Supreme Court become the law of the country and are binding on all authorities in India under Article 141 of the Constitution of India.”
Dismissing the writ petition (no- 67428 of 2006) filed by Raghunath Dwivedi, a student leader of Allahabad University, Justice Sunil Ambwani directed that elections in Allahabad University or for that matter elections in any university in the State, have to be held in accordance with the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.
Dwivedi had challenged the order of Vice-Chancellor of AU Prof Rajan Harshe who had rejected his representation where he had asked to be declared as president of AU Students’ Union, since the elections had been set aside by an order of the High Court. Dwivedi had secured second place in the president’s election.
{{/usCountry}}Dwivedi had challenged the order of Vice-Chancellor of AU Prof Rajan Harshe who had rejected his representation where he had asked to be declared as president of AU Students’ Union, since the elections had been set aside by an order of the High Court. Dwivedi had secured second place in the president’s election.
{{/usCountry}}But the VC- had rejected the representation on the basis of Lyngdoh Committee’s recommendations, which fixed the maximum age limit of 28 years for contesting the election of students’ union. Dwivedi has already crossed this age limit.
Upholding the order of V-C, the court imposed a fine of Rs 5000/- on Dwivedi, which shall be paid to the AU.
The court has also directed that an inquiry be initiated about the academic background of Dwivedi, both to ascertain whether he is a bonafide student of AU and also to prevent such people who are not students of the university to continue staying on the campus for decades altogether.