Official meets pupils, assures action against erring colleges

Non-issuance of certificates, roll numbers

Aakanksha N Bhardwaj
Tribune News Service
Jalandhar, February 20

Over 100 students from the SC and the ST communities from various colleges today apprised Director, Social Justice and Empowerment, Malwinder Singh Jaggi of issues such as degrees and roll numbers on hold, no registrations, alleged discrimination against SC students, possession of original certificates and charging of extra fees.

Jaggi, in the presence of Deputy Commissioner Varinder Sharma, held a meeting with the students who have been holding protests due to the non-implementation of the Post-Matric Scholarship scheme. The students complained against the colleges and alleged that they were not getting their degrees and roll numbers for exams.

Some students said their original certificates of Class X and XII were in the possession of the colleges.

In the meeting, one of the students, while controlling her tears, said by denying their rights, the colleges were not giving them an environment to study. They also termed the colleges as ‘mafia’ in front of the Director. One of the girl students also accused the college authorities of taking extra charges.

She said: “We have been paying more than once in the name of university fee and practicals. While I had given Rs 2,000 recently, my classmate gave Rs 2,400 for the purpose. Main puchna chahungi ki ae Rs 400 kithe janda ne (I want to ask where this rs 400 will go).”

“Aren’t they ashamed of themselves and can’t they see that at this age, the students are holding dharnas,” she asked. To this, the DC asked an official of a college to answer.

Another girl alleged that they had already given admission fees, after that university fees was also taken by the college.

“Again, we have been asked to pay university fees, then the college says that they do not have money. I want to ask that where all the money was going which they are taking from us,” the girl asked.

She said they had to pay heavy fine and when they ask the college authorities about the same, the answers were vague and hard to believe.

The Director after listening to the students said he had noticed that several colleges were taking charging extra at their own level.

He said he would take up the matter with higher education officials. Jaggi also said strict action would be taken against any educational institution harassing students without any reason.

The students said action must be taken to change the situation.

Balwinder Singh from the Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) said since the students were not being given degrees by the colleges, they were finding it difficult to get jobs.

The DC said the issue had been discussed with the Director that either the students should be given degrees during the convocation or by post directly and the colleges should not be given the degrees so that the students could not be harassed.

To resolve the matter, the Principal Secretary, Social Justice and Empowerment, Kirpa Shankar Saroj, will visit the district on Monday and hold a meeting with the students and colleges.

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