UGC advises inclusion of NOTA in students’ polls

The letter says NOTA should be included in the ballot or electronic voting machine so that the student voters would get the option cast their votes in NOTA category if they don’t want to cast their votes in the favour of the existing candidates in the list. UGC’s advice to the educational institutions also included that there is a Supreme Court judgment about the inclusion of NOTA in college elections.

However, in the recently concluded Assembly elections in West Bengal, the Election Commission has introduced NOTA in the EVM. At this point in time, the UGC has instructed all Central universities to introduce the option of NOTA in student organisation elections.

The letter, which has been written to all the Vice-Chancellors of Central Universities on behalf of UGC, where it was clearly stated, that the students’ unions also expressed their willingness to introduce NOTA in the elections of educational institutions. The universities should now think over the NOTA option on EVMs and ballot papers during student body polls.

State education minister Partha Chatterjee has declared the date of student elections, starting from this year’s November to January of the next year. The government has already taken some strong steps to control these elections. The top ranked officers of the state education department had a meeting with the education minister and all the head of the institutions to conduct a peaceful students’ body election.

“Yes, UGC has given an advice to us to introduce NOTA in the students’ body elections. We have received the letter and we will discuss the matter with state education minister,” said an official.