Delhi HC Appoints Retired Justice V. Ramasubramanian As Observer For JNU Election 2024 And Directs Grievance Redressal Cell To Examine Complaints
The Delhi High Court appointed Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Former Judge of the Supreme Court of India as an observer to exercise oversight over the activities of the Election Committee in the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union (‘JNUSU’) Election for the academic year 2023-24 and directed Grievance Redressal Cell to examine the grievances raised by the Petitioner and pass a reasoned order.
The present petition was filed by one Sakshi being aggrieved by the procedure adopted by the Respondents for constituting the Election Committee for the purpose of elections of the Students Council and office bearers of the JNUSU.
The Bench of Justice Sachin Datta held, “In the context of the above, instead of this Court embarking upon an intricate factual inquiry, it would be apposite if in the first instance, the petitioner’s complaints/ grievances are examined by the Grievance Redressal Cell which has been specifically constituted for the purpose of the impugned elections. Previously also, in the context of a challenge to the elections of the JNUSU in 2019 [vide W.P.(C) 9707/2019], this Court had directed the concerned Grievance Redressal Cell to entertain and dispose of any complaint regarding conduct of elections, taking into account the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations; the declaration of the results was made subject thereto.”
Senior Advocate Sanjay Poddar appeared on behalf of the Petitioner whereas Advocate Monika Arora and Advocate Vasanth Rajasekaran appeared on behalf of the Respondents.
The Petitioner relied on Article 18.3 of the Constitution of the JNUSU to contend that it is impermissible to bypass the Students Council from the process of constituting the Election Committee.
The Court further held, “Respective counsel for the parties are also in agreement that in the meantime, for the purpose of the ongoing election process, a retired judge of the Supreme Court be appointed by this Court, as the Observer to exercise oversight over the activities/functions to be discharged by the Election Committee. For this purpose, Mr. Justice V. Ramasubramanian, Former Judge, Supreme Court of India, (Mob. No.:…) is appointed as the observer.”
The Court also directed the Grievance Redressal Cell to complete the aforesaid exercise and pass a reasoned order prior to the declaration of the final results of the Elections.
Accordingly, the petition was disposed of with directions.
Cause Title: Sakshi v. Jawaharlal Nehru University Through Its Registrar and Anr. (Neutral Citation: 2024:DHC:2109)
Appearances:
Petitioner: Senior Advocate Sanjay Poddar, Advocates Jivesh Tiwari, Aditya Kashyap, Govind Kumar, Siddhant Poddar.
Respondents: Advocates Monika Arora, Subhrodeep Saha Vasanth Rajasekaran, Saurabh Babulkar, Harshvardhan Korada, Abhik Chimin, Anant Khajuria, Maroof