Kerala - Kochi   

CUSAT students threaten to launch indefinite strike

Staff Reporter

Strict action against those violating discipline: Vice-Chancellor

KOCHI: The month-long impasse at the Cochin University of Science and Technology (CUSAT) worsened on Saturday with a section of students announcing an indefinite agitation from Monday in protest against the university authorities' decision to take action against those found violating campus discipline.

The students' agitation had intensified on Saturday after the university Syndicate decided to issue show-cause notices to six students for their alleged role in the attack on the CUSAT Vice-Chancellor's office.

The students had entered the office demanding an inquiry into the incidents that had led to the death of a student of the School of Industrial Fisheries located on the lakeside campus of the university. Based on an inquiry, the Syndicate decided to issue transfer certificate to the students in connection with the incident.

Elaborating on the Syndicate decisions, P.K. Abdul Azis, Vice-Chancellor, said stringent action would be taken against those violating the code of conduct enforced on the campus.

He said the university would implement the High Court directive on ensuring discipline on the campus. The university was not against holding talks with students, but it hold talks only after a peaceful environment was created, he added.

Classes at the School of Legal Studies will resume only after normality returns to the campus, he said. Senior university officials will hold talks with parents and teachers to restore normality. The police force on the campus will not be withdrawn, Dr. Azis said.

Professor to rejoin service

On Saturday, the Syndicate decided to allow B. Madhusoodana Kurup, Reader, School of Industrial Fisheries, to rejoin service after he was asked to go on leave in connection with the death of a student, who drowned in the Chalakudi River on February 3. Joseph John, a student of School of Industrial Fisheries, drowned while collecting fish from the river.

Dr. Kurup has been asked not to take classes for fourth semester students of the School of Industrial Fisheries. A Syndicate sub-committee failed to find any conclusive evidence to prove that Dr. Kurup had asked the students to collect fish from the Chalakudi River. The committee has recommended action against a research scholar and guest lecturer at the School of Industrial Fisheries in connection with the death of the student. It has recommended that students should be given training in scuba diving to avoid any mishap in future. A new system for internal assessment will be introduced in the university. A committee will soon submit a report in this regard.

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