Mumbai:
Stating that he was a firm believer in the democratic traditions
of Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Vice Chancellor Lt. General Zameeruddin
Shah on Saturday said that he intended to hold the elections for
the Students’ Union strictly according to the conditions laid down
in the “Lyngdoh Committee Report”.
General Shah said that the Lyngdoh Committee Report specified, in
case there is geographical distance and an institution has a
separate identity, it can have a separate Students’ Union for that
institution, said a university statement.
"Towards that end AMU Women’s College has
traditionally had a separate Students’ Union. It was only in the
last two years, after an incorrect interpretation of the
provisions of the Lyngdoh Committee Report that the separate
Students’ Union for the Women’s College was dispensed with", the
VC is quoted as saying.
"This
resulted in a massive disciplinary problem with members of the AMU
Students’ Union barging into the Women’s College at odd hours, on
lame pretexts. He said that in a meeting with the teachers of
Women’s College 95% indicated a desire to have a separate
students’ union. The parents of the students were also in favour
of a separate union", he added.
General Shah said that a canard is being spread that the decision
to revert back to the old tradition of a separate union for the
AMU Women’s College is a retro-grade move, done under the
influence of the ultra conservative lobby.
He clarified that the
Postgraduate Girls in AMU are part of the main Students’ Union.
The President of the Women’s College Students’ Union is also the
Ex-officio member of the Executive Committee of the AMU Students
Union. AMU women students thus get an equal opportunity to
participate in student union activities.
Lt. General Shah observed that AMU
was a liberal institution of modern learning, discouraging gender
bias but it could not overlook the interests of its women students
or the wishes of their parents.
"However", he said, "Reverting back
to the tradition of having a separate students union for AMU
Women’s College was in no way impinging on the democratic rights
of the women students of the University, he emphasized."
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