University Teachers’ Network condemns cancellation of Amartya Roy’s candidacy in Jucsu polls
The cancellation of Amartya Roy’s candidacy undermines the election process and reflects an ongoing administrative conspiracy, says the network
The University Teachers Network has condemned the Jucsu Election Commission's decision to cancel the candidacy of Amartya Roy, vice president candidate from the Sampritir Oikya panel in the upcoming Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election.
In a statement issued today (7 September), the network said the move "administratively obstructs the optimism generated by this election, which is being held after many years to foster a democratic Bangladesh."
"The cancellation of Amartya Roy's candidacy undermines the election process and reflects an ongoing administrative conspiracy," reads the statement.
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Jucsu Election Commission disqualified Amartya Roy from VP race yesterday, citing that he was not a "regular student" of the university.
The network said the decision violated both the law and the university's constitution. While the Election Commission cited Sections 4 and 8 of the Jucsu constitution, it did not specify which subsection justified the cancellation.
"Critically, Section 21 of the Code of Conduct guarantees a candidate the right to appeal which Amartya Roy was not allowed to exercise."
According to Section 8 (f) of Jucsu constitution, candidates have the right to appeal against the cancellation of nomination papers, and only the president of the union — the university vice chancellor — has jurisdiction over such a decision.
The network alleges that by making this decision, Jucsu Election Commission acted functus officio, meaning its ruling, issued after termination of its authority, is legally invalid.
