The Hindu : New Delhi News : New code of conduct for DUSU polls

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Aug 06, 2008
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

New Delhi

New Delhi

New code of conduct for DUSU polls

Staff Reporter

It is designed as per the Supreme Court judgment on Lyngdoh Committee recommendations

NEW DELHI: Delhi University on Tuesday announced a new code of conduct for the upcoming elections to the students’ union.

To begin with, the maximum permitted expenditure per candidate in the polls has been reduced to Rs.5,000 from the earlier amount of Rs.10,000.

Polls on September 5

Announcing the new code of conduct for the elections slated for September 5, the University authorities said the code would also govern students’ union elections in different colleges.

Use of loudspeakers and vehicles for canvassing has also been prohibited. Till last year, the University had instructed that not more than two vehicles would be used by each candidate for electioneering. Candidates can paste only hand-made posters at designated places (the Walls of Democracy) on the University or college campus.

No printed posters

“The code of conduct this year has been designed as per the Supreme Court judgment on the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. There will be no printed posters. Use of vehicles has also not been allowed. That should bring down the expenses and which is why the maximum expenditure has been kept at Rs.5,000,” Chief Election Officer Gurmeet Singh told reporters at a press conference here.

Vice-Chancellor Deepak Pental said every college would be notified to designate a particular place on its campus where hand-made posters can be put up.

“Canvassing or use of propaganda within 100 metres of polling centres and holding public meetings during the period of 24 hours prior to polling time will be prohibited. Like last year, each candidate will have to submit audited accounts of Rs.5,000 to the University or college authorities within two weeks of the declaration of the result,” said Prof. Singh.

Age limit

To qualify as a contestant, under-graduate students should be between the ages of 17 and 22 years while for post-graduate students, the maximum age limit is 25 years.

As per the code of conduct, a candidate should not have any academic arrears in the year of contesting the election.

The contestant should have attained the minimum percentage of attendance as prescribed by the University or 75 per cent attendance, whichever is higher.

Candidates will have only one opportunity to contest for the post of an office-bearer and two chances to compete for the position of an executive member. No candidate will be allowed to contest simultaneously for more than one post.

Contestants should not have any previous criminal record. “Contravention of any of the guidelines of the code of conduct may make the candidate liable to be stripped of his candidature or his elected post,” added Prof. Singh.

Officers appointed

Shri Ram College of Commerce Principal P.C. Jain will be Staff Adviser of DUSU this year. J.M. Khurana will be the Chief Returning Officer for the elections, while Rajesh Tandon has been appointed the Additional Returning Officer.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

New Delhi