THE J.M. Lyngdoh committee has submitted its report on student elections in the country. Its verdict: Get the politicians off campus.
The six-member panel, constituted on directions of the Supreme Court to look into the "criminalisation" of student polls, submitted its report to the court and the ministry of human resource development.
Youth wings of political parties, the committee has suggested, should not be allowed to contest polls directly. Leaders of a political party should not be allowed to campaign during college elections, it said. A student body of an institute can, however, seek affiliation to a political party.
To curb the influence of money on the elections, the committee has suggested capping election expenses for each candidate at Rs 5,000.
Another major recommendation: students above 26 and those with more than two degrees should not be allowed to contest elections. Many union leaders linger on campus years after graduating by enrolling in other courses in order to protect their party interests. These recommendations, the committee believes, will help in checking criminalisation of students politics.
The committee has also suggested that universities should follow an indirect election process where representatives from colleges elect office-bearers of the central body. In Delhi University, for example, each college should choose a representative, who would then elect the members of the DU Students Union.
{{/usCountry}}The committee has also suggested that universities should follow an indirect election process where representatives from colleges elect office-bearers of the central body. In Delhi University, for example, each college should choose a representative, who would then elect the members of the DU Students Union.
{{/usCountry}}The committee visited various places and conducted public hearings with a cross-section of people before coming up with its report.