Chennai: University Grants Commission has directed universities, colleges to include the Nota (None Of the Above) option in their student body elections.
UGC secretary Jaspal S. Sandhu in his circular said the commission has received references from student unions seeking inclusion of Nota option in the voting system for election of students' union.
He said the universities may consider including the column Nota option in the EVMs and ballot papers while conducting student elections to ensure free and fair elections as per the Supreme Court order.
University of Madras registrar David P. Jawahar welcomed the UGC's move saying that now students can express their displeasure through democratic means.
In the present form, the Nota will not change the outcome of elections. The Nota option should have the bite if a large number of students opted for that option, he said.
University of Madras has not held elections for many years now. But autonomous colleges like Loyola and Pachaiyappa’s college hold student body elections.
Presidency College principal T. Pramananda Perumal said the NOTA option is not needed in student body elections. Elections itself create divide among students.
