(a) whether some Universities are not having Student Unions as reported in the Asian
Age-Delhi Special Age dated, July 20,2007;
(b) if so, the details thereof and the reasons therefor;
(c) whether the Committee constituted by the Ministry also desired that Universities
and colleges across the country must conduct elections for students body;
(d) if so, the details thereof; and
(e) the time by when Student Union is likely to the formed in such Universities?
MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT (Smt. D. PURANOESWARI)
(a) to (e): Universities are autonomous institutions and are governed in respect of academic
and administrative activities including in the matters of student representation by their
respective Acts/ Statutes/ Ordinances. According to available information, the Vice-Chancellor
of Jamia Millia fslamia, which is a Central University, has formed a Committee to draft the
model of student representation in keeping with the recommendations of the Committee
constituted by the Ministry under Shri J.M.Lyngdoh, former Chief Election Commissioner,
that Universities and Colleges across the country must ordinarily conduct elections for
the appointment of students to student representative bodies. Shri Guru Gobind Singh
Indraprastha University is a State University. The lyngdoh` Committee has also recommended,
inter-alia, that where the atmosphere of the university campus is adverse to the conduct
of peaceful, free and fair elections, the university, its constituent colleges and
departments must initiate a system of student representation based on nominations,
especially where elections are being held at present. Where elections are not being held,
or where nomination model prevails, the nomination model should be allowed to continue
for a limited period of time. The Lyngdoh` Committee`s recommendation is that all
institutes must as a primary objective, subject to the pertinent issue of discipline on
campus, seek to implement a structured system of student elections by the conclusion of
a period of 5 years from the date of the implementation of its recommendations.
The University Grants Commission has been advised to take necessary steps to ensure
implementation of the recommendations of the Committee in compliance with the directions
of the Hon`ble Supreme Court of India in this regard and to give it wide publicity. No
time limit can be prescribed for each University separately.