As a consequence, student representation in academic and administrative bodies of universities like the senate, syndicate and academic council has been nullified.
In a further blow to participation of students in policy-making, scheduling and even syllabus design, the State is moving further away from the Lyngdoh Committee Recommendations. The committee’s recommendations were upheld in 2006 by the Supreme Court, making it mandatory for all Universities and Colleges in the country to have elections for student representation bodies. Besides recommending elections to all student representation bodies, the report also suggested that the nomination model must be nothing more than an “interim measure”. The report also suggested that all institutions must mandatorily move to a “structured election model” to allow stake-holders including students to participate in decision-making.
However, the argument against student participation in policy and decision-making has been that student representation bodies are nothing more than arms of political parties which often wage proxy political battles in campuses. But with increasing lobbying clout of private institutions and deemed varsities, the two biggest casualties seem to be fee regulation followed by the rights of students.
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