Chandigarh, Aug. 31 -- What should have been an opportunity to raise students' issues and shape campus policies has turned into a mockery of democracy with student organisations throwing lavish parties to woo voters ahead of the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) elections on September 3.

Not only are these parties in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee guidelines, which cap the total spending by each candidate at Rs.5,000, they also flout liquor laws. Booze flows freely at these parties where most attendees are students between the age of 17 and 23 even as the legal drinking age in Chandigarh is 25.

One such party was hosted by the Student Organisation of India (SOI), along with the Indian National Students Organisation (...