Question : ELECTIONS TO STUDENTS UNIONS

(a) the objectives of holding student union election in the universities and colleges;

(b) whether these objectives are being achieved and if so, the details thereof;

(c) the details of the central universities where elections to students unions have been conducted, not conducted and scheduled to be conducted during the academic session 2012-13 so far;

(d) the reasons for not conducting the elections to students unions in central universities, university-wise;

(e) whether the Government has received representations from students of some central universities recently for holding election there and if so, the details thereof and the steps taken in response to those representations;

(f) whether violence which takes places in these elections is degrading the educational environment and if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT(DR. SHASHI THAROOR)

(a) & (b): The objective of the students’ union elections in the universities and colleges is to create space for democratic representation through an effective mechanism to ensure the voicing of grievances, the general welfare of the student populace and to provide a healthy learning environment for the leaders of tomorrow, while keeping in mind the autonomy of the university in matters of imparting education and maintaining a certain modicum of discipline and decorum on the campus. In pursuance of the order of the Hon`ble Supreme Court, the Lyngdoh Committee was constituted in January, 2006 under the Chairmanship of Shri J.M. Lyngdoh to frame guidelines pertaining to elections to students’ unions in universities and colleges. Upon the submission of a report by the Committee, the Hon`ble Supreme Court directed the implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee`s recommendations. The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to all universities to take necessary steps to implement the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee.

(c) & (d): The information is under collection.

(e) to (g): Universities, including Central Universities, are autonomous entities and are governed by their respective Acts, Statutes and Ordinances. All matters including matters of students’ unions/councils and elections thereto are regulated as per provisions of the Acts, Statutes and Ordinances. Representations, as and when received, are forwarded to the concerned university for necessary action.