Justice Sameer Jain, in a verdict delivered Tuesday after reserving judgment on November 14, disposed of multiple petitions challenging the ongoing suspension of elections.
The court directed the state government to frame a comprehensive policy on conducting student union polls and constitute a high-level committee for the purpose.
This committee must consult all stakeholders—including students, university administrators, and officials—by January 19, 2026, to explore viable ways forward.
If elections remain postponed, the government must provide "strong and valid reasons," the judge emphasised.
Petitioners had argued that student representation constitutes a core democratic entitlement, citing Supreme Court precedents. The state countered that polls disrupt academics, especially amid National Education Policy rollout, and noted the missed Lingdoh Committee timeline requiring elections within eight weeks of session start.
Student leader Neeraj Khinchad, representing petitioners, welcomed the outcome. "We expected immediate polls, but the court's decision to form a committee is positive—it opens dialogue."
The bench also barred use of campus facilities for general election activities, highlighting prior disruptions to studies when universities host polling booths for months.
Rajasthan University has faced criticism for declining standards, with the court earlier questioning lax academic calendars.
Student organisations across affiliations hailed the directive as a step toward restoring campus democracy, suspended for years over violence and logistical concerns.
The committee's recommendations could shape future polls, balancing representation with uninterrupted learning.
