Delhi High Court Seeks JNU's Stand On Plea Challenging Conduct Of Student Union Elections

The Delhi High Court on Wednesday sought the stand of the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) on a plea challenging the process of conducting the elections to the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU).

Justice Sachin Datta was informed by the counsel appearing for JNU and the varsity's Dean of Students that a reply to the petition shall be filed before Friday, the next date of hearing.

The upcoming JNUSU elections are scheduled for March 22. The previous elections took place more than four years ago, in September 2019.

The plea has been filed Sakshi, who has been a student in the varsity since 2021. It has been moved through Advocates Aditya Kashyap and Jivesh Tiwari.

The petition seeks the framing of appropriate university statutes or regulations for conducting JNUSU elections, incorporating the recommendations prescribed in the Lyngdoh Commission.

It is the petitioner's case that the upcoming elections be held strictly in accordance with the terms provided in the Lyngdoh Committee Report.

The plea further challenges the notifications issued by JNU authorizing two students to conduct the General Bodh Meetings (GBMs) for formulation of the Election Committee as well as notifying the list of the committee members for the upcoming elections.

The petitioner alleges the impugned notifications are null and void without any legal basis, besides being perverse, arbitrary, illegal and wholly unsustainable in law.

“Because the conduct of the Respondent in notifying the JNUSU Elections 2023-24 at the fag end of the Academic Session is nothing but an eyewash and mockery of democratic process, aimed at pacifying a certain group, and as such serves no purpose,” the plea states.

It adds that the members of the Election Committee constituted for the upcoming elections are directly associated with some political organisations, which should not be permitted in any sense.

“Because, the prevailing environment of fear and anxiety on campus is detrimental to the well-being and academic pursuits of students. Therefore, this Hon'ble Court must intervene in the GBM process and urge the appointed chairs to facilitate genuine consensus-building among students before finalizing the composition of the EC,” the petition contends.

Title: Sakshi v. Jawaharlal Nehru University & Anr.