Calicut varsity to revamp college union election rules

The University of Calicut (CU) is set to overhaul the rules governing students’ union elections across its 445 affiliated colleges and the teaching departments at its main campus in Malappuram district. This initiative is in sync with the suggestions from the J.M. Lyngdoh Committee, which was established by the Union government two decades ago to scrutinize the conduct of students’ union polls nationwide.

The reformation will be rolled out during the scheduled polls in September and October of this year. It has been over 25 years since the last revision of the election norms, and recurring violent incidents and legal disputes during the elections have become a norm.

The CU recently appointed a five-member committee to propose recommendations for the same. N. Mohammedali, director of the College Development Council, is presiding over the committee, while K. Fazalurahman, Dean of Students' Welfare, serves as the convener. The team includes A.M. Vinod Kumar, Preethi Kuttippulackal, and Pramod Kovvapurath.

Certain officials express concerns that students’ union elections in numerous affiliated colleges are being conducted in violation of university laws. The DSU elections at the university campus were recently cancelled due to violence, they claim. The proposed reforms are likely to concentrate on educating students about democratic procedures.

Separate unions for research scholars and students could be introduced, and institutions might have the option to select either a parliamentary or presidential form of elections. For those opting for the parliamentary form, strict monitoring of the election fund and the activities of the general students’ council could be recommended.

Responses to the proposed changes are divided. The Students Federation of India (SFI) perceives this as an attempt to seize power in the DSU at the main campus and deny voting rights to research scholars. Functionaries of the All-Kerala Research Scholars’ Association, aligned with the SFI, argue that a majority of research scholars have always backed the organisation.

They contend that creating a separate union for them is an effort to aid the Kerala Students Union (KSU) and the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) in DSU elections.

However, the MSF State acting president, Sharafudeen Pilakkal, asserts that the university’s election bylaws urgently require reforms. He points out that many colleges were not adhering to them while conducting elections. Sanooj Kuruvattoor, State general secretary of the KSU, advocates for transparent college union polls, citing instances where students' democratic rights are being undermined for various reasons.

He also suggests the university might contemplate establishing a distinct council to elect research scholars' representatives.