Utkal University Students Poll Standoff: What Lyngdoh Committee Says?

Bhubaneswar: The Utkal University is witnessing another standoff between students and the administration over the students union poll scheduled to be held on October 5.

After a group of students protested the candidature of a presidential nominee, who is supported by Biju Chhatra Janata Dal (BCJD), alleging that he has criminal antecedents, the PG Council of Utkal University on Sunday said it will seek suggestions from Advocate General (AG) regarding validity of the candidature.

What the Lyngdoh Committee says

“The candidate shall not have a previous criminal record, that is to say he should not have been tried and/or convicted of any criminal offence or misdemeanor. The candidate shall also not have been subject to any disciplinary action by the University authorities.”

If one goes by the recommendations of the Lyngdoh committee regarding students union elections, the candidature of the BCJD nominee may be declared null and void, if he has been tried in the court.

Sources said the BCJD candidate, who was a president of BJB college, has several criminal cases against him. Besides, he has been summoned in one case and charge sheet has been filed in the case.

However, the Utkal University authorities would certainly go by the recommendation of learned AG.

But, there is an immunity for the politicians, who are contesting general elections having criminal records. They don’t have to follow the Lyngdoh committee recommendations as they are contesting as per the guidelines of Election Commission of India (ECI).

Some other recommendations of Lyngdoh Committee

• For Post Graduate Students the maximum age limit to legitimately contest and the election would be 24 – 25 years.
• For research students, the maximum age limit to legitimately contest an election would be 28 years.
• The candidate should have attained the minimum percentage of attendance as prescribed by the university or 75% attendance, whichever is higher.
• No candidate shall be permitted to make use of printed posters, printed pamphlets, or any other printed material for the purpose of canvassing.
• Candidates may only utilize hand-made posters for the purpose of canvassing, provided that such hand-made posters are procured within the expenditure limit set out herein above.
• A maximum limit of only Rs 5,000 can be spent by a candidate to contest elections.