After a hiatus of four years, the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students› Union (JNUSU) is all set to conduct elections in March this year.
“It is to inform all concerned individuals that the JNU Students› Union elections for the academic session 2023–24 for Ph.D. students will be held between six and eight weeks from the commencement of the academic session, i.e., on February 2, 2024,” according to the university notification, whose copy is with The Sunday Guardian.
JNU has issued an official notice providing information about the upcoming elections.
This announcement comes after sporadic student protests demanding the holding of elections. The JNUSU elections have not taken place since 2019.
The notice mentioned that detailed guidelines for conducting the elections will be issued in due time by the Office of the Dean of Students, and the elections will be conducted under the strict guidelines of the Lyngdoh Committee Report and the Honourable Supreme Court›s guidelines on student union elections in colleges and universities.
The student union has submitted a new memorandum to the university president, demanding the conduct of elections, the cancellation of the Central Proctor›s Office manual, and initiating disciplinary action against students.
The student body has declared its intention to initiate a comprehensive non-cooperation movement with the administration if the notification concerning elections is not issued by February 2.
Expressing dissatisfaction, the student body stated that despite verbal assurances aligning the JNUSU elections with the new academic calendar, the administration has yet to issue any circular related to the elections. They have warned of staging an agitation if their demands are not addressed.
“Student union elections are essential for a healthy university campus. Transparent and impartial elections are the need of the academic environment,” Umesh Chand Ajmira, ABVP JNU Unit President, said.
ABVP JNU has been demanding student union elections for a long time, and this circular issued by the JNU administration regarding student union elections is commendable, he said.
ABVP welcomes this decision of the JNU administration, and it also demand that these JNUSU elections be in accordance with the rules of the gender justice committee, and the JNU administration should ensure this, Ajmira added.