TURA: With elections to the college union drawing nearer, the Tura Government College Students’ Union (TGCSU) has once again expressed strong opposition to the J.M. Lyngdoh recommendation.
The union pointed out that barring of students aged 17 to 22 from participating in the elections as per the J.M. Lyngdoh recommendation was not applicable for tribal areas especially in the Garo Hills region. It stated that the J.M. Lyngdoh recommendation was purely for Degree students which is not applicable in the college as it felt that the higher secondary level needs to be first de-linked.
According to the union whoever was admitted in the college should have the right to vote and contest as a candidate in the college election.
“TGCSU being the oldest students’ union in Garo Hills has its own constitution which has been in use since the formation of the union. To follow the recommendation the original constitution of TGCSU has to be first amended by two-third majority of the general students,” general secretary of the TGCSU, Balkarin Ch Marak, said.
On the exclusion of the students of Class XI and XII from the election process Marak said that they were part and parcel of the college and have the right to take part in each and every activity of the college. He quoted from the college prospectus under rules and regulations where it was clearly stated that ‘all students shall take part in the activities and functions organized in the college’.
Reiterating that the TGCSU constitution empowers a student whose name is on the roll of the college to participate in the election as a voter and as a candidate the union asserted that it would continue to oppose the recommendation so long as its present constitution is not amended.