Campus cannot be allowed to become political battlefield: SC

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday said that it would not allow a university campus to become a "political battlefield" with free flow of money and muscle power in student union elections. "We will see that educational institutions should not become a political battlefield. Our aim is to see that there should not be free flow of money and muscle power," a Bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and M K Sharma said. The Bench expressed its displeasure that elections in universities have become like parliamentary elections. "Things have changed over the years. See the amount of money going into these elections. Ten years ago even in Parliamentary election such money was not used," it said. The Bench was hearing matters relating to the student union elections in Jawaharlal Nehru University, which were stayed by it on October 24 after allegations that the university was not implementing the recommendations of Lyngdoh Committee. It was also hearing the issue relating to vandalism in a college premises in Puri district of Orissa in the run-up to the students union election. The Bench took up the matter by expressing its disapproval at the students of JNU who filed an application under the nomenclature of 'Joint Struggle Committee' for lifting the stay on its election. The use of word "struggle" in naming the committee to fight out the stay order of the apex court on JNU students union election brought the wrath of the Bench. "What is the nomenclature of the Committee. This is certainly not the language to be acceptable. You cannot say struggle against the Supreme Court," the Bench said.

"Loved reading this piece by Prakash Yedhula?
Join LAWyersClubIndia's network for daily News Updates, Judgment Summaries, Articles, Forum Threads, Online Law Courses, and MUCH MORE!!"

Join our Telegram group

Join our Whatsapp group