The new amendments to the Students’ Union Constitution in accordance with the Education Policy of 2016 has triggered a protest against the administration by the Students’ Union in Hyderabad.
The Students’ Union has alleged that the draft which is now being sent for legal opinion violates the students’ rights. The new Constitution could come into effect on August 15, it is speculated by the elected representatives.
They allege that the new draft which is yet to be implemented makes the Vice Chancellor, patron of the Students’ Union and gives authority to the VC to dissolve the Union and also remove the elected representatives.
Speaking to TNM, Kuldeep Singh Nagi, Students’ Union, President, UoH said that the new draft is against the Students’ rights. He alleged that the draft doesn’t allow students pursuing the integrated course (a programme in which students pursue Bachelors and Masters) to vote in the elections because they are not mature enough.
“It is strange that these students are eligible to vote in the general elections, but can’t vote in the students’ election”, he said.
“We opposed the draft when the academic council meeting took place in June. Despite our dissent, the council members went ahead with the draft and also sent the draft for a legal opinion. Any amendment to the constitution of the Union requires a UGBM (university general body meeting) in which students partake and decide for or against it, not in closed door meetings without students,” he fumed.
“If the new draft is implemented, Students’ Union has to be renamed as Vice Chancellor’s Union, as it gives complete authority to the VC to dissolve or remove any elected representative from the Union”, he said.
“This is in total violation of democracy and students’ rights”, Kuldeep remarked.
Kuldeep further said that the constitution of the Students’ Union was framed in 1981 and amendments to it were made in 1991. “Now, the Academic Council wants to make amendments to it in accordance with the education policy of 2016. How can they do it, when the education policy is still a draft and not being discussed in the Parliament”, he questioned.
Commenting on the issue, the university spokesperson, Prof. Vinod Pavarala, said that the draft was framed under the guidance of Prof. Sudhakar Reddy and added that the draft has been sent for a legal opinion.
He said that the present constitution allows the Students’ Union President and General Secretary only as special invitees in the Academic Council meetings. But the yet to be implemented constitution will make them members of the Academic Council.
He stated that the proposal will be put out in the public domain once the draft is cleared by the legal experts. “Students’ and elected representatives are free to express their apprehensions if they have anything against the draft”, he clarified.
Meanwhile, students in support of the Students’ Union have expressed their solidarity on Facebook by changing their profile pictures to ‘Save UoH Students’ Union’.