ABVP serves legal notice on Mumbai university vice-chancellor

Written By Mihika Basu | Updated:

They allege that while revising electoral rolls of the graduate constituency for the upcoming senate elections, the varsity is deleting names and deregistering those who were registered on the previous roll.

The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has served a legal notice on university vice-chancellor Rajan Welukar and registrar LR Mane. They allege that while revising electoral rolls of the graduate constituency for the upcoming senate elections, the varsity is deleting names and deregistering those who were registered on the previous roll. The senate elections are set to take place in September.

“As per statute 399 of the university, the registers are to be revised at the end of every six years. But revision does not mean re-registration/re-enrollment nor does it authorise the university to deregister them,” says the notice submitted by ABVP activist Pravin Wategaonkar. Wategaonkar is contesting the senate election this year.

The notice says that of the 53,200 graduates who applied for registration and enrollment in the 2010 electoral roll, only 2,144 were from the earlier electoral roll of 2005. “In the elections in 2005, 36,000 graduates were enrolled. If the university has its way, about 34,000 graduates will be denied their right to vote,” said Wategaonkar.

University officials were unaware of the notice and hence refused to comment.