CHANDIGARH: Amid uncertainty over Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC) elections, student bodies are demanding elections in the coming months.
Elections to the student council have not been held in the last two years owing to the Covid pandemic. Now that the situation looks like its under control, students have high hopes again.
“If the University reopens, elections will have to be held. We will not stop demanding elections,” said Sandeep, a volunteer for Students for Society (SFS).
Panjab University Campus Students Council or PUCSC is a students' association comprising department representatives and other office- bearers like president, vice-president, secretary and joint-secretary along with about 123 departmental representatives chosen by students from different departments of Panjab University.
Last PUCSC elections were held in 2019, in which Chetan Choudhary from SOI became president. PU authorities have not said anything yet but students are mounting pressure.
“Elections must be held in the next two to three months and authorities will have to be supportive. There is no reason for them to not be,” said PUCSC president Chetan Choudhary. “Even if, for whatever reason, elections aren’t held, we will still keep working and helping students as the active council,” he added.
Students have also been demanding a representative for the Senate and Syndicate. The Senate and Syndicate are elected decision-making bodies of Panjab University. Students say the decision-making bodies must have adequate representation of immediate stakeholders, which they are.
“The Senate and Syndicate do not have representation of students. Our demand is that elected student office bearers must be de facto members of Senate and Syndicate,” said Sandeep of SFS.
PU dean, Student Welfare (DSW) Prof S K Tomar said, “Student council elections are all about students and their welfare and since, due to Covid, currently there aren’t many students on the campus, we don’t know for sure when can the elections be held.”
