By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: The Kiang Nangbah Government College Students’ Union (KNGCU) has opposed the decision of the college authorities to bar students who are above the age of 22 from contesting in the election of union scheduled on Thursday and has sought for postponement of the election.
“The college authorities have put this restriction as per the recommendations of the JM Lyngdoh Committee which mentioned that only student between the age of 17 to 22 years would be allowed to contest in elections for college unions,” KNGCSU general secretary Dapoiwanmi Laloo told reporters after submitting a representation to the State Director of Higher and Technical Education here on Wednesday.
Laloo also termed as unjustified the College Principal’s statement that they were enforcing the recommendations of the Committee to abide by an earlier Supreme Court ruling. “The Principal’s claim is totally unjustified since the apex court had passed this ruling in relation to a case between the University of Kerala versus Council, Principals, Colleges in Kerala and others.
“The situation here is totally different from Kerala. Electoral politics in educational institutions in Kerala is dictated by political parties. But in Meghalaya political parties are not involved in the college election process,” he said.
Laloo also alleged that the college authorities have only partially followed the recommendations of the Committee.
“They have extracted those sections whereby they are able to manipulate the election process. As per the recommendations of the Committee, the Principal should give up the post of ex-officio president of the students’ union. But the college authorities are silent on this point,” he said.