HC quashes students' poll in Rajasthan

Says Lyngdoh Committee guidelines not followed

In an important decision, Rajasthan High Court on Thursday quashed the Rajasthan University Student’s Union election following the open violation of Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.

The court said the university is free to conduct fresh elections but they should be strictly in accordance with the recommendations of the committee.

Justice Manish Bhandari gave the decision after hearing the petition filed by Saransh Ghiya.

Ghiya claimed that the RUSU elections created inconvenience as students troubled people by creating ruckus on the streets. The recommendations of Lyngdoh committee were also not followed by the students and the university administration.

The court advised the state government to bring in a law to ban students’ union elections across the state in case universities fail to ensure compliance of Lyngdoh recommendations. 

The university elections were conducted in August and were stayed by the Rajasthan High Court immediately after the polling. During the hearing, the court had asked the university administration and police to file affidavits that elections were conducted strictly according to the prescribed norms.

The police admitted violation of Lyngdoh committee recommendations but the university administration denied any such violation. 

Quashing the elections, the court directed the Rajasthan University to produce an affidavit before conducting fresh elections and ensure the court that Lyngdoh recommendations are followed. In case the recommendations are not followed, the court may take strict action. 

After a long ban of around five years, university elections began again during the Ashok Gehlot government’s term on the condition that the elections will be conducted strictly on basis of Lyngdoh Committee guidelines.