Imphal, April 26 2009: Making a scathing attack against the MUSU election committee 2009-10 with regard to the EC's press statement issued on April 24, aspiring presidential candidate K Ranjita alleged that the election committee had lost their minds.

In a statement, Ranjita said that her protest against making original certificate of class XII mandatory while filing nomination papers was on the ground that the time given to collect original certificate was too short and that it lacked logic.

For a student belonging to far off places like Jiribam and interior areas of Churachandpur, Tamenglong etc who have gone home for the April 16 Parliamentary poll, they had no chance to know about the MUSU notification until the late hours of April 15, that too if their friends here took the trouble to inform them through telephone.

As they had to exercise their franchise, they could come back only on April 17 and reached Manipur University in the evening.

On the next day, when they go to file their nomination papers, they would see a new notification making it mandatory to enclose original certificates of class XII.

Under such circumstances, it was impossible to collect original certificates of class XII on the available single day for it required verification by the heads of schools/colleges, she asserted.

Ranjita also questioned how could students who passed class XII from Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore, Chennai, Guwahati, Shillong obtain their original certificates within the given three days' period (two days for students belonging to Outer Manipur Parliamentary constituency) .

Noting that the regulation which made it mandatory to enclose original certificates was not mentioned in the election notification though it was inserted in the nomination form, Ranjita asserted that the election process was conducted under a conspiracy.

Regarding the election committee's claim that many candidates could file their nomination papers along with original certificates, Ranjita said that only those who were a party to the conspiracy or who knew about the conspiracy in advance could meet the deadline.

The elections for MUSU were always keenly contested, she noted while questioning as to why there were no rivals this time.

One fundamental reason for this was the inability of the aspiring candidates to obtain original certificates of class XII, she said.

Coming to the meaning of the word 'formal', Ranjita said that the word does not necessarily mean only what is written in paper.

Explaining that the word 'formal' means what is official or it may mean a conventional practice, Ranjita claimed that verbal approach or representation was very in practice in MU at the time of elections.

She maintained her and other students' verbal appeal/representation to the election committee, the students' Dean and the VC were very much formal.

The election committee talking about 'formal application/complaint' only exposed that it knew its mistake 'informally'.

The only thing was that it was not 'formal', said Ranjita while asking whether the election committee deemed it unnecessary to rectify its mistakes unless there was a written complaint.

Saying that the incident of throwing of eggs and tomatoes at the office of the VC by some infuriated students was not on the day of scrutiny, she asked the EC to correct its misleading press statement.

Acknowledging that no one has the right to question any decision taken by the Election Committee, Ranjita, however, alleged that members of the committee seemed to be lacking basic knowledge of law and common sense.

It is an universal law that in the event of any amendment to a constitution, the basic structure should be left unchanged.

Should the MUSU election committee apply the new regulation, there should be prior debate, a general body decision and due notification issued in advance, Ranjita observed.

Above that, the time given by the EC was irrational, illogical and practically impossible.

Quoting popular sayings "An unjust law in not law at all", "Power without justice is tyranny", Ranjita appealed to the Election Committee not to be tyrants.

Had Dean of Students' Welfare Prof Islamuddin resigned on April 18, in what capacity the Prof showed up on the day of scrutiny ? Why didn't the election committee raise any objection ?.

Prof Islamuddin's resignation was not accepted by the VC till April 20, as such he was still a Dean on the day, Ranjita asserted.

Although it is true that the election committee is constituted by the MUSU president and is an autonomous body, the RO is appointed with the permission or at least knowledge of the Dean.

Explaining the degree of autonomy enjoyed by the election committee, Ranjita said that without the knowledge of Manipur University authority, appointment of RO or declaration of election results cannot be made official, she contended.

The election committee is not fully independent but should function under MU authority within the parameters described above.

Moreover, the election committee is not empowered to formulate rules which are inhuman, irrational or illogical, she said.

The appointment of a new RO without knowledge of the Dean after the former resigned was totally unconstitutional.

As per the conventional election rules of MUSU, the new RO could not be given recognition.

Referring to the last minute assent given by election committee to file nomination papers with provisional certificates on the request of three candidates, Ranjita asked about the election committee's notice which could be bent either way.

"Didn't it mean that whoever in the good book of the committee would be allowed to contest elections and others would be prohibited ?", Ranjita asked.

She further questioned as to how the committee forgot its commitment that no student with forged certificate would be allowed to become leader of MU students at that moment.

"How did the committee know that no one among the three candidates had forged certificate ?" Ranjita questioned.

Further if the election committee was really concerned about any one with forged certificate contesting elections, not only the original certificate of class XII but also of BA/BSc/BCom and MA/MSc/MCom should have been made mandatory, Ranjita observed.

She further questioned the meaning of issuing a notification which allowed filing nomination papers without original certificates when the time for filing nomination was already over.

Asserting that holding her responsible for any possible untoward incident to any of the election committee member was illogical, Ranjita accused the election committee of giving birth to the present issue.

The election committee was responsible for the restless and insecure situation prevailing in MU as well as for the looming threat to the academic atmosphere.

The election committee should be held responsible for both what is good and bad, she countered.

Reiterating that the MUSU election conducted by the election committee through faulty process was not acceptable, she demanded that the MUSU election should be held anew after correcting all the faulty processes.

Until and unless the demand is met, there would be no respite in the ongoing agitation/movement, Ranjita said while seeking cooperation from students and the public towards this end.

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