33 years after last campus vote, Maharashtra moves to revive student elections

The committee has now been tasked to address concerns that have kept elections suspended while also working out a system that can bring them back without external political interference. (File)

Students in Maharashtra last took part in a campus election in 1993. Thirty-three years later, the state government has taken a fresh step towards bringing back student elections, setting up a 12-member committee to examine how campus polls can be held across higher education institutions.

The Higher and Technical Education Department issued a Government Resolution (GR) on Thursday appointing the committee, headed by former Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Prof Suhas Pednekar. It has been given a month to submit its report.

The committee will consult stakeholders and recommend measures for peaceful, transparent and inclusive elections, with safeguards against external political interference and commercialisation of the process.

It will also examine the management and audit of student council funds, orientation and training of elected representatives, and the use of digital systems for nominations, scrutiny and grievance redressal.

NSUI activists staged a demonstration at vice Chancellors office at Mumbai University. (Express archive photo by A Srinivas 30.5.2000)

Representation will also be examined, including mechanisms for women, students from all reserved categories and those involved in the National Service Scheme (NSS), National Cadet Corps (NCC), sports and cultural activities.

The committee comprises former vice-chancellors and pro-vice-chancellors, principals, a senior law officer and university officials.

Maharashtra’s student elections were banned in the early 1990s following a series of incidents of campus violence, including the 1989 killing of NSUI student leader Owen D’Souza outside a Mumbai college during campaigning. The Maharashtra Universities Act, 1994, subsequently barred direct, competitive student elections, bringing an end to a system that had allowed students to elect their representatives on campuses.

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The first formal attempt to revive student elections came in 2016, when the Maharashtra Public Universities Act provided for elected Students’ Councils in universities, colleges and departments.

NSUI activists burnt the effigy of AP Pradhan, Pro VC of Mumbai University, in protest against centralisation of admission by government at University campus. (Express archive photo by Vinayaka Prabhu)

Detailed rules were framed in 2018, and universities prepared to hold elections in 2019. The state cabinet, however, deferred the polls citing law-and-order concerns and their proximity to the Assembly elections. The elections were never held.

The issue remained dormant through the Covid-19 pandemic.

It returned to focus after the recent Gen Z protests, which saw significant participation by young people across Maharashtra. The Indian Express reported in August on the renewed demand for student elections, as youth and student organisations stepped up membership drives after the protests.

Members of ABVP demonstrating in front of Mumbai University demanding resignation of Vice Chancellor on 7.4.99. (Express archive photo by Vinayaka Prabhu)

The latest move is therefore the first formal exercise towards revival since the 2019 postponement.

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The committee has now been tasked to address concerns that have kept elections suspended while also working out a system that can bring them back without external political interference.

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Pallavi Smart is a Principal Correspondent with The Indian Express, Mumbai Bureau. Her reporting is singularly focused on the education sector, demonstrating exceptional Expertise and Authority across the entire spectrum of learning, from foundational schooling to advanced higher education. She is a highly Trustworthy source for policy, institutional developments, and systemic issues affecting students, teachers, and parents in Maharashtra. Expertise Senior Role: As a Principal Correspondent at The Indian Express, her designation reflects her seniority, specialized knowledge, and the editorial rigor applied to her reporting. Core Authority & Specialization: Pallavi Smart is the definitive voice for Education news in the region. Her coverage scope is comprehensive: Policy and Regulatory Changes: Reports on major shifts in educational policy, including the restructuring of entrance exams (e.g., MHT-CET adopting the JEE Main model), the draft regulatory framework for coaching classes, and revised teacher recruitment processes. Higher Education Institutions (HEIs): Provides in-depth reporting on prestigious institutes like IIT Bombay and TISS (Tata Institute of Social Sciences), covering institutional initiatives, administrative debates (e.g., renaming IIT Bombay), and student welfare programs (e.g., mandatory mental health courses). Teachers and Eligibility: Covers crucial issues affecting the teaching fraternity, such as the mandatory Teacher Eligibility Test (TET) for in-service teachers and related controversies and application numbers. Student Welfare & Rights: Focuses on issues concerning students, including the rollout of government scholarships, the financial strain on schools due to midday meal reimbursement delays, and instances of child rights violations (e.g., the Powai studio hostage crisis). Admissions and Vacancy: Tracks the outcome of centralized admission processes (e.g., MBBS, BPharm) and analyzes vacancy concerns, providing essential data-driven insights for parents and students. Credentials & Trustworthiness Dedicated Beat: Her consistent focus on the "KG to PG" education beat allows her to develop unparalleled subject matter knowledge, ensuring her reports are accurate, detailed, and contextualized. Proactive Reporting: Her articles frequently break news on policy and institutional planning, providing the public with timely, essential information about a sector that directly impacts millions of families. She tweets @Pallavi_Smart ... Read More

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