New Delhi: Hidden cameras, CCTVs and
personnel in plainclothes deployed in sensitive locations
-- authorities in Delhi University are keeping a close watch
on activities of students as campaigning is on with full steam
for Friday's student union elections.
As candidates and their campaigners move around from
college to college canvassing for support, two special poll
observers appointed by the University for the first time too
take their own detours around the campus to keep a first
hand check on whether the code of conduct is being adhered to.
"We have at least 13 CCTV cameras installed around the
election office itself. Besides a number of hidden cameras
have been put to monitor the happenings around sensitive
locations," said Prof Usha Rao, the Chief Election Officer.
The elections officials also held a meeting with officials
of Delhi Police today to decide on traffic restrictions and
controls to be in place on the day of election and counting.
"We have identified certain sensitive areas like the Law
Faculty, Arts Faculty, locations around Ramjas college, Khalsa
college, where hidden camreas too have been put in place.
Besides, our personnel both in uniform and in plain clothes
are keeping a vigil all around the campus," Rao told PTI.
The strict adherance to the poll code of conduct derived
from the Lyngdoh committee recommendations and the Supreme
Court observations has meant that the campaign is largely
focussed on serious issues.
"We have been moving around the campus on a daily basis to
check first hand the atmosphere and complaints of students if
any. Yesterday we visited six colleges and spoke to students
and we were happy to find the code of conduct is being adhered
to," said Dr Satish Kumar, one of the DUSU election observers.
Among the security personnel keeping a vigil in the campus
are a number of women to make sure the environment remains
congenial for the fair sex.
The strict code of conduct includes clauses that require
students not to deface campus walls by sticking posters or
writing slogans and to ensure expenditure does not exceed the
permitted limit.
"They have been allowed to use some walls for displaying
hand made posters and the students are sticking to it. The
motive of all this is to have a decent campaign that is
healthy and free from things that shouldn't be seen in
students campuses," Rao said.
The Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to be used for the
voting on September 9 will be transported and put at the
polling centres tomorrow morning. For the first time, braille
has been introduced on polling machines for the convenience of
visually impaired students.
The University also issued a travel advisory today
informing staff and students about the traffic diversions that
will be in place on the day of polling and counting.
"We have received some complaints also and they have been
forwarded to the University's legal cell for their opinion.
Due action will be taken once they give their opinion," he
said.
The campaigning ends tomorrow as major candidates slug it
out for control of the prestigious students panel.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, September 07, 2011, 21:33