Pune: SPPU Students Question Absence of Women, Marginalised Communities on Student Election Committee
Reported by Shoaib Tadvi
Pune, 16th October 2026: The University Students’ Struggle Action Committee at Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) has questioned the composition of the 12-member committee appointed by the Maharashtra Government to study student council elections, alleging inadequate representation of women and marginalised communities.
The Department of Higher and Technical Education constituted the committee on September 24, 2026, to examine the process of student council elections in universities and colleges across Maharashtra.
In a press statement issued on Friday, the student committee said the election-related committee did not include a woman representative and raised concerns over the representation of Scheduled Castes (SC), Scheduled Tribes (ST), Other Backward Classes (OBC), Vimukta Jatis and Nomadic Tribes (VJNT), minorities, persons with disabilities and LGBTQIA+ communities.
Abhishek Shelkar, president of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee’s SPPU unit, alleged that the absence of adequate social representation could allow a few influential groups and political organisations to dominate student elections.
“If those who are already in power are the ones who continue to return to power, how will marginalised communities receive justice?” Shelkar questioned.
Prajyot Gaikwad, a representative of Samyak Vidyarthi Andolan, called for equal treatment of all student organisations, irrespective of their political ideologies. He said no single political party had a monopoly over the national interest and insisted that uniform rules must apply to everyone.
Pratiksha Navale, a student organisation representative at SPPU, stressed the importance of women’s participation in the committee. She argued that the absence of women representatives could result in election policies being framed without adequately considering women’s experiences and concerns.
The committee demanded that social diversity, gender representation and inclusion be prioritised while framing student election policies. It also called for consideration of vertical and horizontal reservation or other appropriate representation mechanisms within the framework of applicable laws and regulations.
Additionally, it sought greater participation of students in university cells working for SC, ST, OBC, women, minority and students with disabilities, along with regular initiatives addressing the concerns of LGBTQIA+ and other marginalised communities.
A student interaction meeting has been scheduled at SPPU on October 17 at noon to discuss student council elections.
The committee said it would submit representations to the Governor, relevant state ministers, the Directorate of Higher Education, the university’s Vice-Chancellor and concerned social justice commissions. It warned that it would pursue constitutional and democratic means if its demands were not addressed.
