Jucsu polls: Amartya files writ to reinstate candidacy, not to halt election
He added that if he files a writ, it would be to reinstate his candidacy, not to suspend or foil the election
Amartya Roy John, a vice-president (VP) candidate from the "Sampritir Oikya" panel in the upcoming Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (Jucsu) election, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking only the reinstatement of his candidacy, clarifying that he is not attempting to seek suspension of the polls.
Briefing journalists at the High Court on Monday (8 September), his lawyer, Manzur Al Matin, said, "After completing all electoral procedures, Amartya Roy suddenly learned that his candidacy had been cancelled. The Jucsu Election Commission did not even give him a chance to appeal."
He added, "We have filed the writ seeking only the reinstatement of his candidacy. It may be heard by a High Court bench tomorrow. The writ does not seek any directive to suspend the election."
Keep updated, follow The Business Standard's Google news channel
Amartya, speaking to The Business Standard, also denied media reports suggesting he aimed to halt the polls, calling them "completely baseless."
He said any legal action he takes will be solely to reinstate his candidacy.
Earlier today, the Sampritir Oikya panel issued a statement clarifying that no writ had been filed to stop the Jucsu polls and confirmed that a petition would soon be submitted to restore Amartya's candidacy. The panel urged the public not to be misled by false news.
The controversy began after Amartya was disqualified from the VP race and removed from the voters' list on 6 September, a week after the initial candidate list was published on 29 August.
The Election Commission cited the Jucsu Constitution, stating he is ineligible as he is not a "regular and valid student" of the university.
According to university officials, Amartya, a student of the 2017–18 academic session, had failed an undergraduate course. Although the Academic Council and Syndicate allowed him special consideration to retake the course, his student status was still not considered "regular," making him ineligible to contest the election.
The Sampritir Oikya panel protested the disqualification the same day, calling it "unjust and conspiratorial."
They also sent a legal notice to the vice-chancellor, registrar, and Jucsu chief election commissioner through Barrister Sara Hossain, demanding that Amartya's candidacy be upheld within 12 hours.
The notice argued that the cancellation violated Sections 4 and 8 of the Jucsu Constitution, describing it as "illegal, arbitrary, and a breach of justice and the fundamental rights provided in Articles 27, 31, 38, and 39 of the Constitution of Bangladesh."
It added that if the authorities failed to respond within the given timeframe, the panel would proceed to file a writ under Article 102 of the Constitution, with all costs and consequences borne by the university officials.
