Kolkata, 1 August (H.S.) -The Calcutta High Court on Friday deferred the hearing on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) concerning the long-pending student union elections in West Bengal’s colleges and universities, following the absence of state counsel Kalyan Banerjee. The matter is now scheduled to be heard on August 7.

The PIL, filed by advocate Sayan Bandyopadhyay, highlights that student union elections have not been held for a significant period in several higher education institutions across the state. As a result, no legally recognized student bodies are active in these institutions. In response, the High Court had earlier directed the state’s Higher Education Department to ensure that student union rooms in colleges without elected student bodies remain closed.

During a previous hearing on July 17, a division bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Smita Das De questioned the state government on the prolonged delay in conducting these elections. The state had informed the court that many universities currently lack permanent vice-chancellors and that the government’s role is limited to issuing the election notification. The court, however, made it clear that the state must first issue the notification and that it would oversee the remaining election process.

The bench also asked the state to outline its plan regarding the issuance of the notification.

The court further ordered that no student may access student union rooms without prior written permission from the registrar or the relevant authority. Students seeking access must submit a written justification for their request. The directive applies strictly to student union spaces and not to other facilities within the institutions.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh