Mumbai: Maharashtra government plans to revive student council elections across state universities and affiliated colleges after a gap of more than three decades.




A 12-member committee will study the provisions and implementation of council elections under the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, and frame guidelines to make the election process more transparent, peaceful and student-centric. Recommending strict measures to prevent external political intervention and commercialisation of student elections is one of its mandates.




A couple of principals that TOI spoke to, however, said that they were not in favour of campus elections.




Maharashtra was keen to revive campus elections a few years ago when Vinod Tawde was higher education minister, but the plan did not take off then. “It has been under consideration for some time and now we got the go-ahead from the govt,” said a higher education department official.




Former Mumbai University vice-chancellor Suhas Pednekar will head the committee, which comprises former vice-chancellors, a pro-vice-chancellor and principals as members, stated a government resolution issued on Thursday.




The committee has been tasked with conducting an in-depth study of the provisions for student elections and recommending appropriate regulations and guidelines for the conduct of elections, including the code of conduct and grievance redressal mechanism. It has been asked to examine the use of digital and online systems, wherever feasible, for nominations, scrutiny, voting and grievance redressal to make the election process more transparent, accessible and efficient.




The committee will also frame guidelines for transparent management, budgeting, expenditure and timely audit of student council funds. It will suggest orientation and training programmes for newly elected representatives on their roles, responsibilities, powers and university or college administrative procedures. It will consult relevant stakeholders before finalising its recommendations and submit its report to the govt within a month.




The committee will also recommend measures to ensure proportionate representation of various sections in student councils, including women, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes and other marginalised sections, as well as students involved in the NSS, NCC, sports and cultural activities.




A city college principal said there is general fear among principals about how student elections on campus will unfold. “We already have so many associations at the college where students’ skills and talents are tested. I do not think the elections will add any value to their education in college,” said the principal, asking if it has been of any help anywhere.




Another principal concurred, saying that the college is not in favour of campus politics, but will be compelled to if the government asks it to.