A Bad Precedent - Controversy in MUSU's election
- Hueiyen Lanpao Editorial :: April 22, 2009 -

The contretemps during the election of the office bearers of the Manipur University Students' Union (MUSU) should be a shame to the student community since MU is the highest centre for learning and it is expected to set a role model.

The situation came to such pass that policemen had to fire several rounds of tear gas canisters to separate and disperse the scuffling students. This may not be the end of the confrontation and a stray incident or minor issue may create further problems any time.

But then for quite sometime there have been unpleasant happenings. There had been instances of assaulting some student leaders and mud slinging.

One angry girl student has told reporters that the election should be declared null and void, and her grounds cannot simply be wished away.

It is a serious issue if some officials had deliberately denied the right to vote to students for reasons best known to them. The reasons ought to be explained to the students and the same should be examined whether they are legally tenable.

Another obstacle pointed out is that original marks sheets and certificates were demanded ahead of the elections. While relevance of this condition is not known it was pointed out that in view of the shortage of time the students could not procure the same from the authorities concerned.

Certainly, the students should have been given enough time.

The fact that the Returning Officer had resigned shows that all is not well in the MU elections. There are some important questions that need be answered about the declaration of the new Returning Officer as the outstanding issues were not settled. An election, whether in MU, Parliament or Assembly, should be free and fair.

The MU authority had in fact distanced itself from the elections. The high officials should be made answerable to the probing questions raised by the girl student and others.

If there was no transgression of election laws during the MU election, it should be explained to the students. If it cannot be done then the competent authority should declare the election result null and void.

A fresh election in a non-controversial manner should be held. If the MU elections are thus embroiled in controversies of all sorts, the people cannot expect much from the college and high school elections.

Most of them will be tempted to emulate it and it should be disastrous. Elections in other universities of the country do not experience such scuffles and legal questions.

All sections in general and the students in particular should join hands to make the MU elections ideal for all educational institutions in the state.