POLITICAL REPRESENTATION
The Pioneer's Report on Role of Land Mafia
Land Mafia, in connivance with some teachers and rusticated students, seemed to have instigated violence in the Aligarh Muslim University which resulted in police firing on October 1, leaving one student dead.
The VC had taken action against this lobby, and four teachers had been suspended in April last for their involvement in land grab. These teachers were charge sheeted only four days before the present round of violence took place.
Tension started brewing in AMU right after the present Vice-Chancellor, Mr. Mehmudur Rahman, joined the university in May (1995).
Mr. Rahman undertook operation to clean the University of anti-social elements.
After joining, the first thing Mr. Rahman did was to make it compulsory for every student, living in the University hostels, to join the mess. Mr. Rahman also passed strict instructions that every student should clear his dues.
To check the unfair activities of unscrupulous students, Mr. Rahman dissolved the Student's Union.
In a move to cleanse the varsity, the VC had appointed his own men at various posts. A section of the teachers was very annoyed with this.
Even the food poisoning case, that took place in Sir Syed Hall, seemed to be a handiwork of anti-social elements. The first batch of students that ate the same meal did not face any problem while the second batch had to be hospitalized due to food poisoning.
However, the different account of the students on the reason to demonstrate at the VC's residence, that resulted in the police firing, raises doubt whether the agitation was spontaneous or organized. While a group of students feel that food poisoning provoked them to organize a demonstration at the VC's residence, another group is of the view that it was the attempt by Punjab Police jawans to enter Habib Hall.
There are other incidents that indicate that an attempt was being made to disrupt normalcy at the campus.
For instance, on September 30 when students marched towards the VC's residence in protest against food poisoning, a group of students broke open the doors of Pro-VC's office and admission records were looted and destroyed. Incidentally September 30 was the last day of submitting admission forms and the VC had refused (to extend it).
Meanwhile, Mr. Rahman said that he had to close the university sine die to enable law-enforcing agencies to segregate anti-social elements from the students.
(Source: The Pioneer, 6 October, 1996)
1996: Lok Sabha Voter Turnout
National Average 57% Above + Below –
1. Very Poor +2.9
2. { Men +2.4
{ Women -2.2
3. { Rural +1.1
{ Urban -3.0
4. Graduates -4.5
5. { Dalit +1.9
{ Muslim -0.8
{ Upper Caste -1.6
(Source: Indie Today, 31 August, 1996)
Bombay High Court on Revision of Electoral Roll
Shri Savio O. Fernandes and another, Petitioners
State Election Commissioner and others, Respondents.
K.G. SHAH & T.K. CHANDRASHEKHARA DAS, JJ
Representation of the People Act (43 of 1950), Section 20 Revision of electoral roll - Procedure - Public intimation or public notice is sufficient to anybody who wanted his name to be included in electoral roll.
The argument of the learned counsel for the petitioners in Writ Petition No. 44 of 1996 that before omitting the names of the petitioners from the electoral roll, they should have been given a personal notice under Section 22 of the 1950 Act, does not appeal to us. When the intensive revision of the electoral roll was carried out, the public intimation or a public notice was sufficient to anybody who wanted his name to be included in the electoral roll and he should have inspected the draft roll when it was ready and published and should have made an effort to get his name included in the final electoral roll if his name appeared in the earlier electoral roll prepared in the year 1993 but, this time was omitted.
(Source: AIR 1996 Bombay 3-43)
Bombay High Court on Pre-Election Corrupt Practice
Vejhurani Thakurdas Jhamandas, Petitioner v. Sabir Shaikh, Respondent. A.P. SHAH, J.
Representation of the People Act (43 of 1951), Sections 33, 123-Corrupt Practice-Candidate posing himself as Shiv Bhakta and covering himself with dhoti of orange colour Held allegation relating to period anterior to commencement of candidature cannot be relied upon and even otherwise wearing clothe of a particular colour could not amount to corrupt practice.
Corrupt practice Respondent a Muslim posed himself as Devotee of Lord Shiva and secured sympathy votes-Allegation to this effect not supported by material facts - Allegation cannot be sustained.
(Source: AIR 1996 Bombay 356)
