Varsity Syndicate’s move to streamline polls draws flak

‘It is an attempt to deny rights of students from self-financing colleges’

The Calicut University Syndicate’s attempt to streamline the university students’ union election has evoked strong disapproval from a section of students’ organisations who have termed it an “attempt to deny the rights of students from self-financing colleges.”

The Syndicate is reported to have come up with a proposal to form an executive council of elected university union councillors (UUC) from affiliated colleges. The functionaries of the university students’ union will be elected through voting from among the members of this executive council instead of the general council.

According to K.K. Haneefa, Syndicate member, the general council has now around 450 members which makes it difficult for the body to function effectively. Of the above 400 affiliated colleges, more than 300 are self-financing institutions. Those with a student strength of even less than 100 have UUCs now, and they vote during the union polls, he pointed out. The proposal to form an executive council could change this and ensure representational voting rights, said another Syndicate member.

Students’ organisations such as the Muslim Students’ Federation (MSF) have called it undemocratic as it might deny voting rights to UUCs from self-financing colleges. Mishab Keezhariyur, MSF State president, said in a release that the organisation would oppose any attempt to flout students’ union poll rules. KSU State president K.M. Abhijith too objected to the “alleged attempt to snatch the rights of students from self-financing colleges.”

The Students’ Federation of India (SFI), however, claimed that the proposal would clean up the mess surrounding union elections that was a fallout of the mushrooming of self-financing colleges without even basic facilities during the previous UDF government’s tenure. “The present proposal is unlikely to curtail their right to vote. The system of students’ executive council is already there at the Kerala University of Health Sciences,” K.M. Sachindev, State secretary, SFI, said.

Meanwhile, Mr. Haneefa said the Syndicate would not forcefully impose the proposal, and a decision would be taken only in consultation with students’ organisations. “A Syndicate sub-committee has been formed to look into it. Students’ organisations can give suggestions to the dean, Students’ Welfare, by November 22,” he added.