Wilson College authorities, students infuriated by Election Commission using some vital rooms on ground floor of premises for the past two years for election work; say board exams, unit tests, NEP, and college festival will suffer
The assembly hall of Wilson College, which is being utilised for poll duty ahead of the municipal election. PICS/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
Preparations for the highly anticipated Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) election have had an unintended impact on staff and students at Wilson College, which overlooks Girgaon Chowpatty. Seven spaces on the college’s ground floor, including the assembly hall, lecture, audio-visual, and common rooms, have been put to use for election duty, taking a toll on academic and extracurricular activities. Three of these spaces, as per college officials, have been utilised since February 2024. “Officials first started using them ahead of the Assembly election and have continued to utilise them nearly two years on,” stated Dr Jamson Masih, principal-in-charge. The other four spaces have been used for poll duty since mid-December.
Election officials set up tables in front of the entrance to the college
Meanwhile, college officials expressed concerns about conducting board examinations and unit tests, implementing the National Education Policy, and organising cultural activities, such as the annual college fest, held annually in January. The college has been corresponding with multiple officials from the election office, but has received no clarity thus far. The civic election will be held on January 15, and counting of votes will take place the following day.
“The Std XI exams will be conducted for 950 students on January 17. We will be accommodating 800 students for the HSC board examinations from February 10. Students with disabilities who may appear for board exams this year need to be accommodated on the ground floor, which is why we hope that the officials will be prompt in vacating the campus after counting day,” Dr Masih told this newspaper.
Dr Jamson Masih, principal-in-charge, Wilson College
Wilson College, founded in 1832, is a Grade-II B heritage building that accommodates nearly 5000 students across junior and senior colleges. Given its heritage statues, the scope for renovating the campus is limited. All indoor sports and activities related to BVoc subjects, such as theatre and crafts, and the National Service Scheme, among other things, are to be conducted on the existing campus grounds. “With the increased footfall, our students have to share their common spaces, such as canteens, washrooms, common rooms, and college gates. While election work is crucial, this cannot be the status quo for an educational body,” said Masih.
Authority speaks
Balasaheb Wakchaure, returning officer, municipal wards C&D, and electoral registration officer, ward 185, Malabar Hill constituency, said, “These allocations are done by ward officers. The work done by all officials here is vital to the governmental bodies and is not a private task. We work with the intention to keep student wellness intact, while making the most out of the space we have been allotted. We have separated the college gates for the entrance of vehicles. As for BMC election spaces, we vacate them shortly after counting day. In fact, once our original office at the Grant Medical College Gymkhana is restored, we will be happy to move out altogether.”
Students’ voices
A TYBA student, on the condition of anonymity, told mid-day, “We did not see this coming, since we had booked these spaces in our college months in advance. Nearly 620 students have been working for months to plan the annual college fest. Our academic calendars, sponsors, and participants will be thrown off if the dates keep changing. We hope that the officials help us get the classrooms soon after the election.”
The campus of Wilson College, whose founding precedes that of the University of Mumbai by a quarter century. FILE PICS
A TYBMS student added that oftentimes, it becomes difficult to coexist with election officials. “We were conducting a pre-event in one of the classrooms when a man came in and asked us to keep it down lest he’d call the police. Since many officials are not in uniform, we can’t tell who is genuine and who isn’t. We have also been seeing gutka stains around the campus,” the student said.
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