Allahabad HC Directs AMU To File Reply By Jan 9 On PIL Seeking Students' Union Elections At University

The Allahabad High Court last week directed the Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) to file a Counter affidavit by January 9 in response to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by an AMU student seeking the holding of students' union elections at the university.A bench of Chief Justice Arun Bhansali and Justice Kshitij Shailendra sought a proper counter from the University after finding the instructions provided by the University's counsel, stating that the election would be conducted at an appropriate time, to be insufficient.The PIL Plea, moved by an LLM student (Kaif Hasan), submits that AMU's failure to hold elections since 2019 is violating the students' rights and democratic principles. A bench of Justice Manoj Kumar Gupta and Justice Anish Kumar Gupta heard the matter.It argues that per the AMU Act 1920 and the Lyngdoh committee recommendation, AMU is bound to conduct student union elections annually within the stipulated time frame. It may be noted that AMU has not held student union elections in the past six years.The plea adds that not holding such elections amounts to wilful disobedience of the Supreme Court's Judgment in the case of University Of Kerala vs Council of Principals' Colleges Kerala wherein the importance of students union election was stressed by the Top Court.The plea states that the university has received a huge amount of grants from the UGC, which also includes funds for the students' union; however, the same has not been used.“(AMU) is liable to answer and furnish the details of allotted budget for the students union since 2020 to 2024. The details may furnish the details of student union budget and details of funds received by the respondent university for students union since 2020,” the plea adds.The plea further states that students have made representations before the concerned respondent authorities, and until now, no significant response has been given by the concerned respondent authorities.The PIL plea also stresses the importance of the students' union, stating that it plays an important role that is not only limited to the students' welfare but has a larger role to play in the interest of the public at large.“…(AMU) has approx. 40,000 enrolled students and for the proper representation of students' grievances and other related problems there is a need for students union because such large numbers of students need a voice and body to represent their respective issues,” the PIL argues.Against this backdrop, the PIL plea prays thus:Direct AMU management to hold the students' union election in accordance with Lyngdoh committee recommendation.Ad-interim direction to the AMU to appoint a Chief Election Officer for holding the students union election and release the schedule of students union election.Ad-interim direction to the AMU management to furnish information regarding students. union funds from the year 2019 and release fundAdvocates Zeeshan Khan, Ali Bin Saif, Nadeem Anjum and Abrar Ahmad appeared for the petitioner. Advocate Shashank Shekhar Singh appeared for the University

Allahabad HC Directs AMU To File Reply By Jan 9 On PIL Seeking Students' Union Elections At University

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