Islamia College bans students union polls too

AFTER MUMTAZ College, Amir-Uddaula Islamia Degree College too, has decided to do away with students union elections from the new academic session.

AFTER MUMTAZ College, Amir-Uddaula Islamia Degree College too, has decided to do away with students union elections from the new academic session.

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Neither college will charge ‘union fee’ now however, both will be reviving the Literary Club and Science Association. The decision at both the colleges was taken after a consensus evolved among teachers that students’ union elections sparked lawlessness, impudence and violence.

Zafariyab Jilani, in the management committee of both the colleges, says, “The High Court, in one of its judgments, had empowered minority institutions to decide the format of the students union. The HC had categorically stated that the district administration or its officials could not interfere in the management of minority degree colleges. It had stated that the right to have students’ union elections was not part of right to education”.

“The District Magistrate cannot act as an extra-Constitutional authority and should, therefore, restrain from indulging in the affairs of affliated-minority degree colleges,” he said. According to Jilani, it is in this light that both these colleges have decided to do away with students’ union elections and instead, go for nomination on the basis of merit.

The management has an ambitious plan to restore the lost glory of the college. And for that it is imperative that college must do away with students union, said Dr Ali Mohd Khan, principal of Islamia College. Mumtaz College principal Atiq Ahmad Faruqi said: “The Rajasthan High Court has already banned students unions and now, there is this ruling for minority educational institutions in the state.”

Both Mumtaz and Islamia College principal said that they were prepared to face initial resentment from irate student leaders.