Pondicherry university students lay siege

The V-C has assured students that their demands would be met

A view of the main administrative building of Pondicherry Central University

Even as a section of students of the Pondicherry University had announced an indefinite siege from Monday at the main gates of the University seeking ouster of Vice-Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy for alleged maladministration and human rights violations. The authorities warned of “appropriate action” against those, including faculty, taking part in the protest.

A spokesperson of the Pondicherry University Students Movement alleged that the administration under the leadership of the V-C had been harassing students who tried to voice their opinions.

A few Heads of Departments and the Dean had been threatening students with dire consequences if they raised their voice against the V-C.

The management had also not taken any step to tackle the problem of acute shortage of rooms in hostels. Instead of solving the problems the VC had been resorting to pressure tactics against the students, they alleged.

The students have also demanded that the authorities hold elections to the student council immediately. Though the academic year has commenced the elections are yet to be held.

Six buildings which were built at the cost of Rs.50 crore during 2012-13 remained unopened and no infrastructure had been created for the past two years.

Meanwhile, the University Registrar (in charge) S. Pannirselvame issued a circular to the Heads of all departments and Deans of all schools asking the students to abstain from participating in any form of protest “against the MHRD and the University”.

“All the teachers, staff and students of Pondicherry University are hereby informed that participating in such protests or in any form of strike would be a direct violation of the relevant provisions of the Pondicherry University Conduct Rules as far as teachers and staff are concerned and a direct violation of Code of Conduct in respect of students of the University,” the circular stated.

The Circular cautioned that appropriate action would be taken against teachers, staff and students if they participated in any protest.Strike withdrawn

The Pondicherry University Students Council has announced withdrawal of the proposed strike on July 27 after the Vice-Chancellor Chandra Krishnamurthy assured them that no student would be left without accommodation in the campus.

The VC has also assured students that all the newly constructed buildings would be put to proper use within a month’s time. The pending merit scholarships submitted by Postgraduate students would be disbursed within two days, K. Dinesh, president, Students Council said.

As the VC has accepted and fulfilled most of the crucial demands of the students and assured us that she would look into the other demands seriously within a shorter time frame, we have decided to withdraw the proposed strike on Monday, he added.

Students want election to be held and adequate hostel facilities provided

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