Ravenshaw University has come up with a fresh alternative model for students’ representation.
It has now decided to retain the single apex body — the students’ union — but adopt a two-tier system for election of office-bearers for it.
Vice-chancellor Ishan Patro told The Telegraph on Saturday that in the two-tier system, students will elect class representatives who on their part will elect office-bearers of the student’s union.
“The two-tier system is expected to strengthen the idea of representation of students through direct election at the class level of all departments and enhance student’s participation through decentralisation of the election process,” Patro said.
He said the decision was taken on the basis of recommendation of the executive council and will be adopted in the upcoming students’ election (2018-19) of the university.
On August 10 last year, the university had notified an alternative model for students’ representation by replacing the single apex body — such as the students’ union — with students’ councils for each of the nine schools consisting of a total 34 departments.
A week later, it amended the alternative model by incorporating a presidium at the university level with conveners and deputy conveners of different schools.
But stiff opposition by a combined front of students’ organisations forced the university to defer election indefinitely on August 22, 2017, and refer the matter to the executive council. However, no recommendation had followed till the council met on Friday.
The executive council was expected to recommend whether direct students’ election should be replaced by indirect elections taking into consideration the legality of the options, especially the alternative model which the university had proposed to adopt. Patro said as per the recommendation of the executive council, each of the five classes in 34 departments will elect their class representatives respectively.
“The elected class representatives will elect the president, the general secretary, the vice-president, the joint secretary, the assistant secretary and other office-bearers of the students’ union,” Patro said, claiming that the two-tier system adhered to the recommendations of the Lyngdoh Committee. He said the election process would start with the formal notification on October 1 and the polls would be held on October 11 as per the schedule announced by the state government on Friday.