ABVP issues legal notice to JNU election committee over transparency breach concerns

New Delhi [India], April 21 (ANI): In a significant development, the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) sent a legal notice to the JNU Election Committee regarding irregularities in the ongoing JNUSU elections.
The official release stated that the notice has been filed by Vaibhav Meena, candidate from ABVP for the post of Joint Secretary. The notice calls the notification issued on April 18 "unlawful, unnecessary, and against the spirit of free and fair elections," specifically objecting to the Election Committee's unexpected reopening of the nomination withdrawal process.

ABVP has clearly stated that the notification was released in a unilateral and arbitrary manner, constituting a gross violation of electoral rules and the pre-declared schedule. The organization has demanded the immediate revocation of the said notification and has asserted that such actions are detrimental to the democratic spirit of student elections.
Furthermore, ABVP has firmly insisted that the elections must be conducted on the previously declared date, April 25, following the final candidate list already released as per the rules.
On April 11, the JNU Election Committee released the official election notification, outlining dates for nomination, scrutiny, withdrawal, campaigning, and voting. As per this, the last date for nomination withdrawal was fixed as 16 April 2025, 2:00 PM.
Due to logistical delays, a final opportunity for withdrawal was provided on April 17, followed by the release of the final list of candidates post 5:00 PM the same day. The election campaign period was subsequently set for eight days.
However, on April 18, the Election Committee issued another notification citing "unforeseen circumstances," and unexpectedly reopened the withdrawal window from 2:00 PM to 2:30 PM on the same day. This sudden decision raised serious questions about the fairness and transparency of the electoral process. It not only disrupted the planning of campaign strategies but also placed valid candidates at a significant disadvantage.
According to the release, the legal notice highlights several key points.
The committee breached its previously declared election schedule and withdrew from its stated timelines. Also violated its own commitment mentioned in previous notification of strict following the Lyngdoh committee's recommendations.
As per clause 6.4.1 of the Lyngdoh Committee, the entire election process must be completed within 10 days. Clause 6.4.2 further mandates that elections be held within 6-8 weeks of the academic session. This reopening of the withdrawal process clearly violates both clauses.
The reopening of the withdrawal process unfairly benefits candidates who had filed nominations for multiple positions, which is prohibited under electoral rules.
Altering the final candidate list post-final declaration, under vague justifications, directly undermines the fairness and integrity of the process. Candidates who adhered to the process in good faith and commenced their campaigns are now subjected to undue uncertainty and procedural injustice.
The ABVP demanded that the elections must be held on April 25 as per the final list declared on April 17, and the final list of candidates declared previously must be retained. It also demanded that the unethical notification issued on April 18 must be immediately withdrawn.
ABVP further stated that the election process must be conducted transparently and fairly, following the pre-declared schedule and Lyngdoh Committee guidelines. If the Election Committee fails to act on these demands, ABVP will pursue legal action against it.
ABVP-JNU President Rajeshwar Kant Dubey said, "The Election Committee's actions violate its own announced schedule and the foundational principles of transparency and equality. While the Committee earlier declared in its notification to conduct elections by strictly following the Lyngdoh Committee's guidelines, they have now started working against their own ethical commitment. These arbitrary decisions not only infringe upon the rights of candidates but also cast serious doubt on the legitimacy and credibility of the entire electoral process. We believe such erratic and ad hoc decisions erode the democratic rights of students and are diminishing student trust in the electoral system." (ANI)