Punjab should deliberate on need for student elections: Harjot Bains

Reacting to the massive protest seeking representation for the faculty and students from different parts of the state on the Panjab University campus here, Punjab Education Minister on Tuesday stressed the need to seriously deliberate on the need for student body elections in state colleges and universities.

“We need to seriously deliberate on student body elections in our colleges and universities. Students from all over the state coming here to demand the old structure of elected representatives in the Senate was reaction to a current development. However, the demand for a representation on campus administration is an old one,” he said.

Bains felt that “the culture of discussion, dissent and decision are part of a vibrant democracy”.

“Jawahar Lal Nehru University (Delhi) and Delhi University, in particular, have been closely watched by everyone since independence. Campuses have given leaders with academic content in their argument,” he said.

The Punjab Government had banned the student elections in 1984 after the state witnessed incidents of violence during an anti-government campaign, largely, by the All-India Sikh Student Federation (AISSF).

Former Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in the Vidhan Sabha in 2018 announced that direct elections would be held in universities and colleges across the state.

More than 300 students from Punjabi University (Patiala) and scores from Guru Nanak Dev University (Amritsar) and their affiliated colleges came on PU campus demanding the old senate structure here and also pitched for student body elections in state universities and affiliated colleges.

Vice-President of the GNDU student organisation — the Sath — Jaskiran Singh Zira said “We have met our Vice-Chancellors several times demanding elections. We know very well that nothing will happen till the state government decides. Supporting revival of the old senate is our appreciation for a system that allows healthy exchange of ideas between different groups”.

Gurdas Singh, district president of the Punjab Students Union, and Yadwinder Singh, president of the Punjab Students Front, both from Punjabi University, said they walked 15km yesterday to reach the PU campus to make their presence felt on an issue.

Both underlined the demand for campus elections for students.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Panjab University Arun Grover said, “Student elections should be held, definitely, to give a platform for student opinion. Elections are not happening because no political party wants it. Students are basically anti- establishment and will lay bare the government failings which was why they are not allow any”.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Punjabi University, SS Boparai, who had joined the protest at PU seeking restoration of the existing senate said, “In a country where even the uneducated exercise their right to elect MPs and MLAs, there is no justification in denying the same to the educated. The ban imposed during times of trouble could now be lifted and government should allow student body elections.”

The Vice-Chancellor of GNDU Karamjeet Singh said, “Elections are a sensitive issue and only state government decides after taking into account all factors.”