Confusion yet again!

By Ardra Balachandran

Twenty four hours haven't passed after the statement that counting will resume on September 11th and political chaos on campus has forced the Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW) to change the decision again. Official sources confirmed that counting has been deferred.

Apparently, a new complaint from students was referred to the Grievance Redressal Commitee (GRC) by the Vice Chancellor. Since the GRC needs 24 hours to look into this complaint, the counting that is supposed to happen on September 11th has been postponed until further decision. Meanwhile, the VC has also asked the GRC to submit a complete report on what has happened until now from the time of the General Body Meeting.

It is clear that without the support of all student organisations, counting cannot take place. At this point, that is the last thing that the DSW or the EC can claim.

Multiple contradicting statements from the authority and consistent conflict of ideas among political parties point towards one sure thing though – it is going to be long before University of Hyderabad will have Students' Union 2009-2010.

Counting on September 11

By Ardra Balachandran

The Dean of Students’ Welfare (DSW) confirmed on September 10^th that the counting process would resume on Friday morning, September 11^th. Dr. Ananthakrishnan mentioned that the state has assured the required police forces on Friday and there is no need to wait any more. The process shall begin at 9 am and the results are expected to be out by 6 pm.

Coming to know of this announcement, the ABVP and the ASA-NSUI-DSU alliance came together against the decision. They stay put that the polling process was rigged and there is no meaning in carrying on with this election with the existing Election Commission (EC).

The presence of polling agents of all contestants is required for the counting process to happen. If these parties decide to boycott counting on Friday, the administration would not be able to do anything but to postpone it indefinitely. On the other hand, being the supreme authority on this matter, the EC also can boycott the process if it is postponed indefinitely against its wishes. But unless they resign, no re-election can happen. With all political parties except SFI in no mood to settle for anything other than a re-election, it looks like a perfect catch-22 situation!

Grievances post the GRC meeting...

By Deepti Bharthur and Ardra Balachandran

Students had dispersed on Tuesday, September 8^th, after the DSW informed them that a Grievance Redressal Committee (GRC) meeting will happen next day to decide on future course of action.

As promised, the GRC meeting happened around 3.30 pm at Vice Chancellor’s chamber and finished by 6.30 pm. As soon as Dr Ananthakrishnan, the Dean of Students' Welfare, was dropped off at his office at SN School, SFI members approached him for an update.

He told them that the GRC had decided that after a full review of pertaining documents, a decision will be taken. Unhappy with the mandate that counting was not going to begin soon, SFI members demanded for the same quoting VC’s permission to go ahead with the proceedings. The DSW further explained the issue and expressed the inability to gather observers (for the counting process) so quickly. At this, the SFI members gheraoed Dr. Ananthakrishnan’s office and repeated their demand

Police soon came from the Chanda Nagar station and had a closed room discussion with the DSW to analyse the feasibility of having a counting. After this, it was relayed by the DSW that because the campus environment was not conducive for a peaceful counting process, a minimum of 150 personnel would be required for it to take place.

SFI members agitated again on hearing this announcement. They continued with the allegation that the administration was falling prey to the threatenings of other political parties and postponing the electoral process unnecessarily. However, a faculty member Mr. Vasuki Belavadi from the Department of Communication, who was present at the site also chipped in and convinced them that counting will resume as soon as the required forces are granted by the state; mostly in two days.

SFI comrades seemed to have accepted this suggestion and retired peacefully. Representatives of no other organization were present during the incident.