UoH dissolves students’ union; ‘premeditated, calculated assault on democracy’

NEW DELHI: The University of Hyderabad has dissolved the students’ union ahead of the upcoming student union elections 2024-25. Calling the move ‘undemocratic’ and ‘autocratic’, the HCU unit of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) condemned it and announced a boycott of all administrative meetings.

The office of dean students welfare notified the dissolution of SU with “immediate effect” with the vice-chancellor's approval while the university’s election commission shared the schedule for SU polls 2024. “The Student Union for 2023-24 is dissolved with immediate effect, as approved by the competent authority cited in the 2nd reference. The Election Commission will conduct the Student Union elections for 2024-25, as cited in the 1st reference,” said the dean. As per the election schedule, Hyderabad University students’ union elections 2024 will be held on October 25 and the results will be announced on October 26.

“This is yet again another example of the administration's deliberate and shameful underhand tactics aimed at suppressing dissent and dismantling democratic and representative bodies,” the federation remarked.

'Autocratic' attack on SU constitution

The student organization argued that the term of the students' union elected in November last year has not been completed yet and the DSW “dictated” the dissolution in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines. SFI alleged that the university has “forced” the elections amid pending PhD admissions and within less than two weeks of the undergraduate admissions. The union office bearers rejected the directive issued by the dean and demanded strict adherence to the commission’s guidelines.

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SFI found the decision a display of authoritarianism and mockery of students’ will and complained that the administration has repeatedly failed to address the needs of students.

“The Students' Union Constitution clearly states that the union has the rightful term of 1 year from the date of election results. The procedure to be followed in exceptional circumstances is ensuring student representation through a Caretaker Union. In the face of clear democratic and official guidelines the administration has decided to completely dissolve the Union, blatantly neglecting and stifling the will of the students and the voice of the office bearers and student organizations,” SFI stated.

The students further alleged that the move is not an isolated but a ‘premeditated’ and ‘calculated’ attack on the student democracy. Demanding removal of the DSW notification, SFI said that it will fight and struggle against the “dictatorial” and “autocratic” order of the administration.