JUCSU elections: HC orders restoration of Amartya’s candidacy, JU appeals
The High Court has directed the authorities of Jahangirnagar University (JU) to reinstate Amartya Roy’s candidacy for the post of Vice President in the Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) elections.
In response, the university administration has filed an appeal with the Appellate Division’s Chamber Judge’s Court challenging the ruling.
On Tuesday afternoon, a High Court bench comprising Justice Md Mujibur Rahman Mia and Justice Biswajit Debnath issued the order, calling for the immediate restoration of Amartya Roy’s nomination. The decision came just hours after the university abruptly disqualified him from contesting, sparking widespread controversy on campus.
The petition was filed on Monday, September 8, by Supreme Court lawyer Manzur Al Matin on behalf of Amartya Roy, a student at the university.
Addressing reporters after the verdict, Matin said Amartya was running for the Vice President position under the Sampriti Oikya panel when his candidacy was unexpectedly cancelled, without any formal notice or opportunity to respond.
“This decision completely bypassed due process,” Matin said. “There is a set timeline for the elections: nomination submission, scrutiny, appeals, and final confirmation. After all stages were completed, Amartya discovered only days before the election that his candidacy had been nullified, without a hearing, without a letter, without any explanation.”
He emphasized that the writ petition did not seek to delay or postpone the JUCSU elections. “The sole demand is the restoration of Amartya Roy’s right to contest. He is asking for nothing more than a fair chance to participate in the democratic process of his university.”
The sudden disqualification had triggered protests among students, who accused the university administration of acting arbitrarily and undermining electoral transparency. The High Court’s intervention is being seen as a critical affirmation of procedural fairness in student union elections.
Meanwhile, Jahangirnagar University has moved swiftly to challenge the order, filing an appeal before the Chamber Judge in an attempt to stay the verdict. The case is expected to be heard in the coming days, as the election date looms.
Students across campus are now awaiting further developments, with many calling for impartiality and adherence to established electoral rules. The JUCSU polls, long regarded as a barometer of student political engagement, are being closely watched amid growing demands for institutional accountability.