JUCSU election: Amartya Roy files writ seeking candidacy reinstatement as VP

Amartya Roy Jon, who had his vice-president (VP) candidacy cancelled for the upcoming JUCSU polls from the Shompritir Oikya panel, filed a writ petition with the High Court seeking reinstatement of his candidacy.

The writ was filed on Monday, and a hearing on the matter is expected to take place today (Tuesday).

Speaking to reporters on Monday, petitioner's lawyer Manjur Al Matin said, "Despite the publication of the final list of candidates, the election commission suddenly and arbitrarily cancelled Amartya Roy's candidacy in violation of the rules. We have appealed to restore his lawful right to contest the polls, and we expect the court hearing to be held tomorrow."

The election commission cancelled Roy's candidacy last Saturday, eight days after the publication of the final candidate list.

A notification signed by Chief Election Commissioner Professor Moniruzzaman stated that Amartya Roy, a residential student of AFM Kamaluddin Hall and a student of the Department of Archaeology from the 2017-18 academic session, was declared ineligible to be both a voter and a candidate under Sections 4 and 8 of the JUCSU constitution.

Roy, however, claims that his exclusion from the VP race is "completely unjust." Following the cancellation, the Shompritir Oikya panel issued a statement declaring the election commission's decision "illegal and procedurally flawed."

The much-anticipated Jahangirnagar University Central Students' Union (JUCSU) and hall union elections are scheduled to take place on September 11, marking the first such polls in 33 years. A total of 179 candidates are contesting for 25 JUCSU positions, with 10 candidates vying for the top VP post and nine candidates competing for the general secretary (GS) position.

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