Bhubaneswar, Oct 8 (UDN): With students’ union elections set to return to higher educational institutions in Odisha after a long gap, the State Government has stepped up preparations to ensure that the polls are conducted peacefully and without disruption to the academic environment.
Chief Secretary Anu Garg chaired a high-level meeting at Lok Seva Bhawan on Tuesday to review security and administrative arrangements for the elections. Senior officials, including Development Commissioner and Additional Chief Secretary Deoranjan Kumar Singh, DGP Binaytosh Mishra, Intelligence Director R.P. Koche and Higher Education Commissioner and Secretary Arvind Agarwal, attended the meeting.
District Collectors and Superintendents of Police from across the State participated virtually.
The government has issued the notification for this year’s students’ union elections under the Higher Education Department. As per the schedule, nomination papers will be filed on October 9, polling will take place on October 15 and results will be announced on the same day.
Garg directed Collectors and SPs to coordinate closely with college and university authorities to ensure that the elections remain peaceful and orderly. Officials were asked to take preventive measures to avert incidents of violence, intimidation or disruption on campuses.
Focus on Lyngdoh Committee Guidelines
The meeting placed particular emphasis on enforcing the guidelines of the Lyngdoh Committee, which prohibit non-students from entering campuses or interfering in the election process.
The Chief Secretary directed district authorities and police to closely monitor compliance with these provisions and prevent any outside influence from disturbing the polls.
Collectors, SPs, Additional District Magistrates and Deputy Collectors have also been asked to visit higher educational institutions in their respective districts. During these visits, officials will interact with college and university authorities as well as students and review arrangements for conducting the elections smoothly.
Police to Monitor Poll Process
Higher Education Commissioner and Secretary Arvind Agarwal briefed the meeting on the election schedule, rules and standard operating procedures. He said detailed information concerning participating institutions and the SOP for conducting the polls would be shared with district administrations and police authorities.
DGP Binaytosh Mishra, Development Commissioner Deoranjan Kumar Singh and Intelligence Director R.P. Koche directed police officials to maintain close surveillance throughout the election process.
SPs have been instructed to visit institutions ahead of nomination filing and monitor the situation from the nomination stage through campaigning, polling, counting, declaration of results and the post-election period.
Special attention will be given to institutions where student unrest or disturbances have been reported during previous elections.
Government Seeks Peaceful Return of Campus Politics
The administration has also stressed the importance of maintaining a conducive academic atmosphere while allowing students to participate in the democratic process.
“Ensuring peace and order and maintaining the academic atmosphere of higher educational institutions is our priority,” Chief Secretary Anu Garg said, calling for coordinated efforts by educational institutions, district administrations and police.
Director of Higher Education Kali Prasanna Mohapatra, Joint Secretary Mousumi Nayak and other senior officials were also present at the meeting.
The government’s preparations come as Odisha gets ready to witness students’ union elections across higher educational institutions after a prolonged gap, with authorities seeking to balance student participation with campus discipline and security.