SFI stages demonstration

The state unit of the Students Federation of India (SFI) on Monday staged a demonstration outside the office of the HP Public Services Commission to press the demand for cancellation of screening tests for various jobs. Its members also submitted a memorandum to the secretary of the commission. The memorandum stated that students were already under stress due to Covid-19 and the announcement of dates for competitive tests had added to their worry. It read that the number of infected persons had crossed 2,200 and several areas were sealed due to which pplicants coming from other states would face inconvenience. It stated that in case tests are not cancelled and any applicant gets infected, the commission would be held responsible.

ABVP flays privatisation of education

The state ABVP has accused some private universities, allegedly involved in the fake degree racket, of issuing irrelevant statements to depict fake degrees as genuine. It said the racket pointed to commercialisation of education. “The ABVP has been opposing privatisation and commercialisation of education. The fake degree racket in which FIR has been registered against some universities has tarnished the image of the state,” said ABVP state secretary Rahul Rana. He alleged that these universities had not stopped their nefarious activities. He alleged that some private universities were collecting other charges from students despite directions by the government to only charge tuition fees. He said many private universities had not paid salaries to their employees and some universities were deducting money while refunding the security amount. He said if extra charges collected by the universities are not refunded, the ABVP would be forced to launch an agitation.

NSUI wants cancellation of tests

State president of the NSUI has demanded cancellation of all screening tests for various posts, for which dates have been announced by the HP Public Service Commission and the HP Subordinate Services Commission. “The Covid-19 pandemic is spreading fast in the state and people are scared of coming out of their homes. In such a situation, it won’t be advisable to conduct examinations, exposing applicants to risk of infection,” said state NSUI president Chhatar Singh Thakur, adding that the examinations lined up by the Himachal Pradesh University should also be cancelled. The general secretary of state NSUI, Manoj Thakur, demanded that students be promoted without conducting examinations on the basis of past performance as places like the HPU, state secretariat, CM’s office and the High Court were sealed after some persons were found Covid-positive. The government should take all precautions to contain the virus, he said.

Himachal Pradesh varsity sanitised

Himachal Pradesh University, which was closed after an employee was found positive, was sanitised by the district administration on Monday. No decision has been taken to open the university so far.