300 law varsity students boycott exam

Ravneet Singh

Tribune News Service

Patiala, March 18

Over 300 students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) today boycotted their mid-semester tests in support of their demands, including revocation of the suspension of six students. They held a protest march on the university campus in the evening.

Students and the authorities remained at loggerheads as none of them relented. Students demand that the university should revoke the suspension of six students, formalise a students’ body on the campus and make changes in the hostel entry-exit rules. Officials from the district administration and the police also met university officials in order to convince them to find an amicable solution to the problem.

Meanwhile, the university conducted the mid-semester exams as scheduled on Monday.

Over 300 students of first to fourth-year batches boycotted the tests as announced earlier. However, fifth-year students, along with a few from other batches, appeared in the exam. None of the second-year students took the exam.

Talking to The Tribune, RGNUL Vice Chancellor Paramjit Singh Jaswal said, “The university has taken cognisance of the protest carried out by students in the mess. Senior officials of the university had offered to consider all demands of the students if they ended their protest, but they did not relent. So, the exams were held as per schedule.”

“Those who did not appear in the exams will be marked absent. The exams will be held as per the announced schedule,” he added.

Parents lash out at varsity

Protesting students of the university have got support from alumni and student organisations in national law schools across the country. The protesting students’ parents, to whom the university had sent e-mails requesting indulgence while explaining the whole scenario, lashed out at the university authorities. They criticised the university for using revocation of suspension orders as a bargaining tool.

The parents retorted that their children were being harassed by the administrative officer on the university campus. “We have read the annexure and their (students’) demands, which warrant this action and we stand by them as their guides because the university has failed to do the same,” replied parents in their e-mails.

Hold talks with students, district admn tells VC

Officials of the District Administration and the police held a meeting with Vice Chancellor Paramjit Singh Jaswal. They suggested that the university authorities should resolve the matter through talks. They also showed concern over the police being called on the varsity campus while students were holding a peaceful protest.

Bone of contention

The university authorities suspended six students for creating ruckus in the mess on Friday. The hostellers resorted to protests and decided to boycott exams. Following this, the university took help from the police. Riot control vehicles were stationed outside the campus. Students have been camping on roads in the university ever since.

Demands of students

Students have demanded that the university should revoke suspension of six students, formalise a students’ body on the campus and make changes in hostel entry-exit rules. They demanded that the administrative officer, SP Singh, should be suspended over alleged ‘vile’ behaviour. In response, the university authorities want students to end the strike first.