JNU rejects Lyngdoh panel recommendations for student union polls

New Delhi: Gearing up for another standoff, JNU students today rejected the Lyngdoh committee recommendations for students union elections and decided to go by the University Constitution for the conduct of polls.

"A resolution was passed in the General Body meeting last night that JNU student union polls will not be conducted as per the Lyngdoh committee recommendations but the JNU Constitution will be followed," JNUSU Vice President Shehla Rashid Shora said.

"The Lyngdoh panel mandate has various arbitrary clauses which we have always been opposed to. However, now we have decided to reject it and hold our polls as per the university constitution," she added

After remaining suspended for 4 years over non-compliance of Lyngdoh committee recommendations which were implemented with a view to check money and muscle power, JNU had revived the election process in 2012.

The committee headed by former Chief Election Commissioner J M Lyngdoh had in 2005 recommended a cap of Rs 5,000 on election expenses per candidate besides formulating other rules and regulations for cleaning up campus politics. In 2006, the Supreme Court had directed that these recommendations be implemented.

After a four-year long legal battle, JNU students had in 2012 agreed to a five-point relaxation to them from the recommendations and went ahead with the polls.

However, now the students have decided to reject the Lyngdoh committee recommendations and go by the JNU constitution.

Students are the sole authority for conduct of the student union elections and the university administration has no role in the entire process.