Keralam Assembly: Academic Election Commission for Keralam campuses under consideration, says Education Minister

The State government is considering setting up an ‘Academic Election Commission’ on campuses to introduce constructive reforms in student union elections, Higher Education Minister Roji M. John said in the Keralam Assembly on Tuesday. Replying to a submission by Uma Thomas, the Minister said the government supported campus politics but was committed to curbing unhealthy practices while not infringing on students’ democratic right to protest.

Student politics had been active in Keralam’s colleges since the freedom struggle and it had evolved through the formation of various student organisations and campaigns to protect democratic rights, he pointed out. Healthy political interactions helped students develop leadership skills, assimilate democratic and constitutional values, all the while contributing to a vibrant and active campus environment. However, in at least some institutions, the government has taken note that campus politics was taking an unhealthy turn, he said.

The government’s policy has been to curb such practices without curtailing students’ right to democratic protest, the Minister said. Apart from revising the college election processes, the government was also introducing the ‘Sidharthan Student Distress App’, announced in the Budget and included in the 100-day action programme and the ‘Sidharthan Anti-Ragging and Student Welfare Act’, aimed at safeguarding student welfare, as part of its intensive efforts to check unhealthy practices on campuses.

The government’s policy was to encourage campus politics, but any activities that disrupt the peace and harmony on campuses will not be allowed, Mr. John said.