Student body polls are now as democratic as the national elections!
College students can now pick the None Of The Above (NOTA) option during college and university student elections, as approved by the United Grants Commission (UGC).
In a notification issued on 14 July to the Vice Chancellors of all central universities and affiliated colleges, UGC Secretary Jaspal S Sandhu said that the UGC received representations from several students' unions demanding the inclusion of NOTA option in campus polls.
"The Commission has received references from student unions seeking inclusions of NOTA (None of the Above) option in the voting system for Election of Students' Union. The universities may consider to include the column NOTA - 'None of the Above' option in the Electoral Voting Machines (EVMs) and ballot papers, while conducting student elections to ensure free and fair elections among student bodies. This may also be bought to the notice of all affiliating colleges," the notification states.
The UGC is also reported seeking a strict implementation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations.