Parade GCW principal goes as govt succumbs to students’ protests

Tribune News Service

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Jammu, August 23

The state government today succumbed to student protests against the alleged harassment of students with regard dress code and punctuality at Government College for Women (GCW), Parade, and removed the Principal, Anita Sudan.

Sources said the government decided to initiate action against the Principal due to the “fear of law and order problem” in the wake of swelling protests in other colleges of the region.

“The Principal has been attached with Director Colleges, Higher Education Department, pending inquiry into the matter, following the protests,” said Mohammad Altaf Bukhari, Minister for Education.

An order of the Higher Education Department read, “Geetanjali Andotra, the incharge Principal, under orders of transfer to the Government Degree College, Banihal, posted as the incharge Principal of GCW, Parade.”

Students alleged that they were “harassed” by the college staff and watchmen on the directions of the Principal in the name of dress code and punctuality. The college principal, on the other hand, had said that restrictions had been put on the entry and exit of students, following complaints by their parents. Recently, four girl students had gone missing after their parents dropped them at the college gate. They had not entered the college. One of them was found from Allahabad. The principal said the college dress code — white ‘salwar’, ‘kameez’ and ‘dupatta’— helped the staff in differentiating between students and outsiders.

Earlier today, students of the GCW, Parade, continued to protest for the second consecutive day. Protests also spread to other colleges, where students boycotted their classes in support of students of the GCW, Parade.

Hundreds of students from the GCW marched towards the Deputy Commissioner’s office in Jammu. Led by ABVP activists, they staged a dharna at the DC office complex and raised slogans against the college administration, particularly the Principal. Senior officers of the district administration tried to pacify the agitating students but to no avail.

Later, the DC, Jammu, Rajiv Ranjan held talks with students, who submitted him a memorandum of their demands.

Director submits report

Director, Colleges, J&K, GM Tibet Baqal said he visited the college and listened to the complaints of students. “Only a  few students were out of their classes while the remaining were attending regular classes or were in laboratories. I submitted my report to the government,” Baqal said. 

Four girls had gone missing

The college principal had said that restrictions had been put on the entry and exit of students, following complaints by their parents. Recently, four girl students had gone missing after their parents dropped them at the college gate. They had not entered the college. One of them was found from Allahabad. The principal said the college dress code — white salwar, kameez and dupatta — helped the staff in differentiating between students and outsiders.