After nine years, MP universities to hold student body elections in September 2026
After a gap of nine years, student body elections are set to be held in Madhya Pradesh's universities and colleges in September 2026. The state government informed the High Court of this on Monday, August 3, 2026, while submitting the academic calendar for the 2026-27 session. The calendar fixes the month of September for conducting the Student Body Elections, referred to as Chhatra Sangathan.
The submission was made before a Division Bench of Acting Chief Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal in Jabalpur. The court was hearing two petitions filed in 2024 and 2025, which sought the conduct of elections in the state's higher education institutions. With the government's reply and the calendar in place, the court disposed of both pleas.
Student union elections in Madhya Pradesh were last held in 2017. The petitioners had argued that the absence of student unions has affected the democratic representation of students on campuses. The court's order noted that the month of September 2026 has been fixed for the elections, marking an end to the nine-year hiatus.
Student unions serve as a platform for students to voice their concerns and participate in campus governance. Their absence over the past nine years has been a matter of concern for student organisations, which have repeatedly called for the restoration of the electoral process. The upcoming elections are expected to revive these democratic structures and give students a stake in decision-making.
The academic calendar for 2026-27 lays out the key dates for the academic year, including admissions, examinations, and vacations. By scheduling student body elections in this official document, the government has provided a clear timeline for the conduct of polls. This also helps institutions and students plan accordingly.
The Division Bench directed the state authorities and all public universities to hold elections in every college. Several universities had sought directions for adequate police arrangements during the polls. The court said that each college or university could approach the district administration and local police for security measures. This addresses the logistical requirements for conducting peaceful elections on campuses.
"The State Government has filed a reply along with the Academic Calendar for the academic session 2026–27. In the said Academic Calendar, the month of September 2026 has been fixed for conducting the Student Body Elections (Chhatra Sangathan)," the court order read.
State Higher Education Minister Inder Singh Parmar said that his department is examining the court's directions. "I have discussed the matter with the Chief Minister. We will take a decision soon," he told reporters in the capital, Bhopal.
The government had, during a previous hearing on July 15, stated that the academic calendar for 2026-27 was under preparation and that provisions would be made for student body polls. At that time, the court had asked the government to file the calendar. The calendar has now been finalised, and universities will need to initiate the election process as per the schedule. The court took the government's reply and the calendar on record before disposing of the petitions.
The calendar mentions September 2026 for the elections, but an exact date is yet to be announced. This gives universities flexibility to prepare the electoral rolls and make necessary arrangements. A detailed schedule is likely to be announced closer to the date.
With the court setting the timeline, students will be able to elect their representatives for the first time since 2017. This ends the nine-year absence of student unions in the state's higher education institutions. The decision is expected to restore democratic representation in campus governance.
