The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has sought an action-taken report (ATR) within four weeks from the Registrar of Ravenshaw University, Cuttack with regard to the plight of students.
The apex rights panel passed this order while acting on a petition filed by rights activist Radhakanta Tripathy.
The petitioner alleged that attack on students and lack of safety and security has become a serious headache for the students of the university while the century old institute struggles with acute faculty and staff shortage along with infrastructure deficiencies.
“At present, the university imparts under-graduate, post-graduate and higher studies to more than 6,000 students. But the number of posts for the faculty and the staff has not been upgraded at par with the increase in students and streams. Infrastructure development has also been abysmal,” the petitioner contended. lack of basic infrastructure, safety and security, inadequacy of staff has made the life of the students of the historical institute miserable. Strikes, demonstrations, rallies or peaceful protests could not bring any result so far, Radhakanta alleged.
He requested the commission to send the Special Rapporteur to visit the spot to assess the situation, besides urging it to ensure installation of CCTV cameras everywhere for the safety of the students.