The commitiee on petitions of the Lok sabha , a few years ago recommended & passed that the voting age must be reduced to 18 years so that students would have active participation in politics & consequently in National activities . But this issue was under discussion & subjected to debates & seminars for a long time , pointing out that in some democratic countries including the U.S , the age of old franchise is 18 , for a person becomes a major under the law of that country for any purpose at the age of 18 . It is true that the responsibility for exercising is not more ownerous than that arising under civil or criminal laws . And so, we too brought the voting age iun India from 21 to 18 .
Inspite of this apparently arguments in favour of allowing the students to have participaTION IN POLITICS , there is no doubt that such a move has been disasterous in the present conditions in India . It has greatly demoralised higher education as the students of every university & colledge have been split into political parties . Now the students are badly exploited by the politicians & we here of conferences & rallies of students under the patronage of political parties This has already produced a state of chronic indiscipline in many universities leading to closure of schools & colledges , disruption of studies & postponement of examination resulting in further lowering of educational standards , which is already unsatisfactory in comparison with those of other countries .
The participation of students in politics does not merely mean the exercise of the vote as in the case of government servants who are presented from active participation in party politics .
Moreover the chances of hot blooded youth becoming involved in election campaigns & demonstrations will be greatly increased . So the participation of students in politics will do more harm than good .
