SC seals fate of overaged candidates in JNUSU polls

New Delhi, Oct 24 (UNI) The Supreme Court today sealed the fate of all those candidates above 28 years of age in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (JNUSU) elections and directed that the polls slated for November 3 should not be held if the over aged candidates remain in the fray.

A bench comprising Justices Arijit Pasayat and M K Sharma made it clear that no research scholar should be allowed to contest JNUSU elections in violation of the guidelines laid down by this court in terms of the recommendations of J M Lyngdoh committee.

The apex court, however, made it clear that JNUSU elections can be held as per schedule provided candidates above 28 years of age are kept out of the fray.

The court also issued show cause notices to the Vice-Chancellor Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and JNU Registrar seeking an explanation how and under what circumstances the Supreme Court orders have been allowed to be flouted in JNUSU elections.

The Lyngdoh committee has fixed 28 years as upper age limit for research scholars to contest university students union elections.

Another important recommendation of the committee is going to spoil the party for those candidates who have been office-bearers of JNUSU earlier as such candidates are also debarred from contesting JNUSU elections irrespective of their age.

Almost all the political parties are opposed to the Supreme Court guidelines and about a dozen candidate are likely to face this disqualification and will not be allowed to contest the elections.

Main parties like National Students Union of India (NSUI), Students Federation of India (SFI) and All-India Students Association (AISA) have over aged presidential candidates.

The committee headed by former Chief Election Commissioner of India Mr Lyngdoh was appointed by the apex court to suggest ways of the purging the university campus of criminals and politicians.

UNI SC NY RP SB SSC1429