Lyngdoh lashes at laxity of varsity

NEW DELHI: Not mincing words, the man behind the reforms suggested in student union polls, former election commissioner J M Lyngdoh, told TOI on Saturday that Delhi University has violated the guidelines upheld by the Supreme Court and the ‘‘vice-chancellor is responsible to get them implemented''.
Going by the Lyngdoh committee recommendations, upheld by the SC in September last year, the present mode of DUSU elections is nothing but a farce.Among other things, the committee had suggested that universities with sprawling campuses and large student bodies should go in for indirect elections. That is, students should directly elect or nominate college and campus office-bearers and university representatives, who in turn should elect the university students' union office-bearers.
‘‘As per the guidelines, there should be no direct elections and no political parties should put up their candidates. The system recommended was exactly that followed in the parliamentary elections. With no direct elections in place, there won't be any high expenses involved. Indirect elections used to take place earlier in DU. It is for the vice-chancellor to see that the recommendations get implemented,'' said Lyngdoh.
Stressing that the recommendations were made to clean up campus politics, that has come to be influenced by money and muscle power of political parties, Lyngdoh said: ‘‘We were asked by the SC to find a solution to the politicisation and criminalisation of campuses during the students' union polls, and we did so. If they (university authorities, government or political parties) have a better solution, then they should go for it.''
DU vice-chancellor Deepak Pental could not be contacted for his response. University officials, however, remarked that indirect elections were not ‘‘practically feasible'' in a set-up as large as DU. ‘‘We used to follow indirect election till the late 70s, but students used to be highly influenced, so we switched to direct elections. It is easier to influence a few hundred college representatives than a lakh voters,'' said university proctor and chief election officer Gurmeet Singh.
Singh further added that the university has been following all other recommendations in letter and spirit. ‘‘Except for the provision which has a ban on handmade posters, we have been following all other guidelines. Next year onwards, we will meet up this requirement too,'' he said.
V-C Pental apparently met Lyngdoh over the issue on Friday. Asked if he was dissatisfied with DU's efforts at laying down the guidelines, Lyngdoh said: ‘‘The whole country is anyway in chaos, I don't expect anything great from the university.''
"If these guidelines are followed, everything on the campus will be alright. Else, things will be as before,'' he added.
soniya.sarkar@timesgroup.com