Maharashtra to hold college elections after 33 years, Pednekar panel to frame rules

The state government has taken a major step towards restarting student council elections in state universities and their affiliated colleges. These elections have not been held even once in the last 33 years, and the government has now set the process in motion. To prepare a framework and rules for this, the government has set up a 12-member expert committee. Former Mumbai University vice chancellor Prof. Suhas Pednekar will chair the committee, which also includes Mumbai University registrar Dr. Prasad Karande.

The committee will consult various stakeholders and suggest ways to hold student elections peacefully, transparently, inclusively and in a student-centred manner. It will also examine measures to stop outside political interference and the use of money in these elections. Besides this, the committee will be responsible for drafting guidelines for the student council's funds, budget, expenditure and audit. It will also consider orientation and training programmes for elected student representatives, as well as whether a digital or online system can be used for nomination forms, their scrutiny and resolving complaints.

The committee will also study how women, Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe students, and other reserved and disadvantaged groups can get proper representation in the student council. It will make recommendations on giving representation to students participating in the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), sports and cultural activities.

In the 1980s and 1990s, political interference, violence and criminal activity had risen sharply on university and college campuses in Maharashtra. Between 1989 and 1990, direct interference by political parties in student union elections increased. The battle for dominance led to clashes, threats and the use of weapons on college campuses. This violence peaked at a well-known college in Mumbai, where a student was brutally murdered. The incident shook the entire state.

With a serious law and order situation arising, the then government acted swiftly and, under the Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, imposed a complete ban on direct student elections from the 1994-95 academic year. The issue took a back seat during the Covid-19 pandemic and after it. However, in recent times, with growing participation of Gen Z youth in education-related agitations, the question of student representation and campus elections has come back into discussion.

The 12-member committee now appointed by the state government faces two major challenges: first, to study the difficulties encountered earlier in holding student elections and suggest solutions, and second, to work out a process by which students can elect their representatives while preventing outside political interference and the use of money. The government will take the next decision on student elections after the committee submits its report.