The Hindu : New Delhi News : High drama at Hans Raj

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Aug 01, 2006

New Delhi

New Delhi

High drama at Hans Raj

Staff Reporter

NSUI activists go on rampage against college rule of a minimum cut-off for students seeking re-admission to the hostel

SCENE OF ACTION: Hans Raj College Principal's room after the melee created over the hostel admission issue at the North Campus of Delhi University on Monday. Photo: S. Subramanium

NEW DELHI: There was high drama at Hans Raj College of Delhi University on Monday as National Students' Union of India (NSUI) activists went on the rampage smashing windows and breaking furniture in the Principal's office and staff room. They were protesting against the college rule of a minimum cut-off percentage for students seeking re-admission to the hostel.

"I told the hostel students who requested us to waive this cut-off percentage on Saturday that this sort of decision can only be taken by the hostel committee. I told the NSUI activists the same thing. But they wanted me to take a decision right then. When I refused, they smashed the glass on the table and threw a chair at the Vice-Principal and me. We then called in the police. I will personally talk to the Vice-Chancellor about this," said Principal S.K Arora.

A decision on whether action is to be taken against the Congress-backed NSUI activists will be taken at a meeting on Tuesday. The fate of the students seeking admission to the hostel will also be decided at the hostel committee meeting.

In an attempt to bully the Principal into waiving the minimum cut-off percentage, activists stood on tables in the staff room gheraoing Dr. Arora and shouting slogans. An application listing the names of ten students who have not got the required cut-off was also handed to the college authorities asking them to waive off the rule.

"This is the only college with this hostel rule. We are supporting the students. We have also given the Principal the deadline of 12 noon on Tuesday. If they don't listen to us, we will go on strike. I don't know who is responsible for the damage in the college," said Delhi University Students' Union president Ragini Nayak.

While students in the hostels claim that the minimum cut-off required for re-admission is a new rule, college authorities point out that the required marks are clearly mentioned in the prospectus. However, students allege that the college was only imposing this rule on second year hostellers.

"Last year students told us that the rule was formulated in their time, but they managed to defer it till this year. Not one student has been consulted on the issue. Where will we go now? There is no co-operation from the Principal and this is why we had to call the DUSU office-bearers," said a student.

Interestingly, the college authorities claim they have a letter signed by DUSU vice-president Amrita Dhawan last year requesting that the minimum cut-off required for hostellers be deferred this year.

The BJP-led Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (AVBP) has strongly condemned the violence. "This is not the way to resolve the matter. There are peaceful ways to tackle the problem. NSUI is only indulging in this sort of violence as they feel that they will get attention as the elections are round the corner," said ABVP State general secretary Nakul Bharadwaj.

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