JAIPUR/JODHPUR, Dec. 20 -- The Rajasthan high court on Friday refused to order the immediate conduct of student union elections for the 2025-26 academic year on procedural grounds, but issued detailed guidelines regarding such elections in the future. Justice Sameer Jain, while disposing of petitions filed by a group of students, issued a key directive ordering university authorities to convene a meeting on January 19, 2026, with the petitioners and representatives of all affiliated colleges. The purpose of this meeting is to hear grievances and jointly develop a viable methodology for conducting student union elections in the future. The university is then required to issue a reasoned decision within fifteen days. The bench said, "The respondent-University and the State Government are directed to ensure institutional accountability and transparency, particularly in light of the fact that fees are admittedly collected from students under various heads connected with student activities, including elections. The respondents shall constitute or maintain a duly notified Students' Union Election Board/Committee, comprising responsible University officials, which shall be accountable for decisions relating to the conduct, postponement or regulation of Students' Union elections, ensure that such Board affords a reasonable hearing to student representatives or petitioners who approach it with grievances relating to elections, thereby complying with the principles of natural justice, and maintain proper accounts of election-related fees collected from students and ensure such amounts are utilised strictly for the purposes for which they are levied." The court said that at this advanced stage of the academic calendar, issuance of directions for conduct of the elections may lead to disruption of academic schedule, examination process and allied scholastic activities. "Accordingly, the directions issued herein are intended to operate prospectively, and it is clarified in unequivocal terms that no mandate is being passed for the conduct of Students' Union elections for the present academic year," the bench noted. The court issued directions to the respondents, stating that the election calendar shall ordinarily be issued in March of each academic year to ensure predictability, preparedness and minimal disruption. The election calendar shall be scrupulously adhered to, and any departure therefrom shall be supported by cogent reasons recorded in writing. The mode and manner of elections, whether direct, indirect or hybrid, shall be decided by the Vice-Chancellor or the designated election conducting authority/committee, strictly in consonance with Rajasthan Universities Students' Union Elections (RUSU) Guidelines and Rules, 2017....