New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday gave its nod for implementing the J.M. Lyngdoh Committee suggestions on the conduct of student union elections.

A Bench, comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and Lokeshwar Singh Panta, gave this interim direction on a batch of petitions. While accepting the report of the committee set up by the court in December 2005, the Bench directed that a contestant should not spend more than Rs. 5,000, and within two weeks of the declaration of results, he or she should file a certified copy of accounts to the college/university authorities. The election would be nullified if the candidate exceeded the expenditure.

"With a view to preventing the flow of funds from political parties into the election process, the candidates are specifically barred from utilising funds from any source other than voluntary contributions from the student body."

Additional Solicitor-General Gopal Subramaniam drew the court's attention to the death of Prof. Harbajan Singh Sabharwal in Ujjain in a fallout of student union elections.

The Bench directed the States to give adequate police protection to the staff in charge of the elections. It asked Mr. Subramaniam to inform all States and universities that the order should be implemented with immediate effect.

Referring to the death of Prof. Sabharwal, the Bench said, "We are anguished at the Guru Dakshina" given by students. "There should be a moratorium on student union elections for five years. Without student unions, colleges can function."

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