Mumbai, September 24, 2026: Maharashtra Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant ‘Dada’ Patil has announced the formation of an expert committee to make student council elections more transparent, peaceful, smooth and effective. The committee will conduct an in-depth study of various aspects of student council elections and submit recommendations to the government.
The committee has been constituted under the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016, and the applicable regulations related to student council elections. Former Mumbai University Vice-Chancellor Dr. Suhas Pednekar has been appointed as the chairman of the committee.
The committee includes former Vice-Chancellor of Swami Ramanand Teerth Marathwada University Dr. Pandit Vidyasagar, former Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Savitribai Phule Pune University Dr. N. S. Umarani, Mumbai University Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Ajay Bhamre and experts from various universities and colleges. Mumbai University Registrar Dr. Prasad Karande will serve as the Member Secretary.
The committee will recommend necessary guidelines to make the election process peaceful, transparent, convenient and time-bound. It will also examine different stages of the election process, including nomination, scrutiny, voting and grievance redressal, and suggest appropriate regulations.
The committee will also make policy recommendations to ensure fair and proportionate representation of women, Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, recognised Vimukta Jati and Nomadic Tribes, Other Backward Classes, as well as representatives associated with the National Service Scheme, sports and cultural activities.
Special attention will be given to preventing any external political interference and commercialization of student council elections. The committee will also prepare guidelines for transparent management of student council funds, budgets and expenditure, along with timely audits.
The committee will recommend training and guidance programmes for newly elected student representatives so that they understand their rights, responsibilities, procedures and matters related to university and college administration.
It will also study the use of digital and online systems for nomination, scrutiny, voting and grievance redressal and submit its recommendations to the government.
Minister Chandrakant ‘Dada’ Patil said that the expert committee will submit its report and recommendations to the government within one month.
