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Nod for direct polls to students’ body

CUTTACK: Finally the authorities of Ravenshaw University bowed down before the students’ power. Relentless protests by students, unsolicited suggestions from political leaders and requests from University Development Trust Board members forced the varsity authorities to climb down from its earlier stand and agreed to have the direct elections to form the university students’ council.

“The Teachers’ committee comprising the Deans of the university on Saturday decided to urge the Executive Council to reconsider its decision on formation of the students’ council,” informed Registrar Satyakam Mishra. However, the elections would be held under certain conditions which would be in addition to Lyngdo Committee recommendations, Mr. Mishra said.

It may be mentioned here that the students of the university had resorted to widespread protests demanding direct elections ever since the executive council suggested having nominations or selections to form the council instead of direct elections. The executive council decision was taken on the plea that elections make a dent in the academic ambience of the campus.

Soon after the executive council’s suggestion was made public in the wake of students’ unrest inside the campus last month, the students led by All India DSO activists held a series of protests.

A mass convention was organised inside the campus in which political leaders, including former Lok Sabha Speaker Rabi Ray felt that banning of elections in educational institutions would curtail the democratic rights of the students.

Even the Trust Board members came out with a request urging the authorities to reconsider their decisions. More than 500 students also made a representation promising that they would ensure peace during the elections and would not engage in any form of violence.

Considering the pleas, the teachers’ committee decided to have direct elections in the campus with the conditions that no outsider would be allowed to enter into the campus to canvas for any candidate. Similarly, there would be no campaign for the polls after the study hour, particularly in the hostels. Nomination of the candidates having financial backlogs or found guilty for their involvement in last month’s violence in the campus would be rejected.

“The students representatives agreed to obey the new conditions proposed by the university authorities,” informed the university registrar.

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