Madhya Pradesh High Court orders DAVV to conduct student union elections within 75 days

The Madhya Pradesh High Court has issued a strict order to Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya (DAVV) in Indore to conduct student union elections within a deadline of the next 75 days. This significant decision has been taken to ensure compliance with previous orders issued to conduct elections in all colleges and universities of the state.

According to reports, Justice Pawan Kumar Dwivedi of the Indore bench of the High Court passed this order on Thursday. The matter arose from a contempt petition filed by law student Arunesh Mishra. While disposing of the petition, the court gave clear instructions to the Registrar of DAVV to take all necessary steps to conduct student union elections in the university within 75 days and ensure full compliance with the orders of the High Court's main bench.

Regarding the sequence of events, the main bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court in Jabalpur had directed on August 3 to conduct student union elections in all colleges and universities of the state. Despite this order, elections were not held at Devi Ahilya Vishwavidyalaya. Taking note of this, law student Arunesh Mishra approached the court. He alleged that the state-run DAVV failed to conduct student union elections despite clear court orders. Arunesh Mishra filed the contempt petition, treating this case as a violation of the court's order.

Advocate Jayesh Gurnani, representing the petitioner, told a news agency that an academic calendar had been presented by the state government before the main bench in Jabalpur. According to this calendar, student union elections were to be conducted across Madhya Pradesh in the month of September. However, the elections were not held even after the scheduled time had passed, which necessitated this legal battle.

Providing further information, Advocate Jayesh Gurnani stated that student union elections were last held in the higher education institutions of Madhya Pradesh in the year 2017. Since 2017, student union elections have not been conducted in any college or university in the state. This long-stalled process will now resume following the latest directives of the High Court.

Following this order of the High Court, a deadline of 75 days has been set for the administration of DAVV. Within this period, the university must complete all election processes and select student representatives. Holding the Registrar accountable, the court has ordered that there should be no lapse in complying with the orders of the main bench.