Internal examinations of different bachelor and post graduation courses and admission process for the academic session 2013-14 were adversely affected in DAV (PG) College and DBS (PG) College on Wednesday as student leaders of these colleges forcibly closed the college gate to protest against release of merit lists for admissions from this academic session.
These colleges are being forcibly closed by student leaders for the last 10 days. State Higher Education principal secretary Radha Raturi said that as these are private aided colleges and are affiliated with HNB Garhwal University, State Government has no role to play regarding increase in seats for different bachelor degree courses. The district administration has deployed heavy police force in the campus of these colleges to avoid untoward incidents.
Student leaders gathered in DAV (PG) College and burnt the effigies of college management while shouting anti-college administration slogans.
NSUI member Swati Negi said that students have been protesting in the campus for the last 10 days against release of merit lists for admissions but college administration has turned a deaf ear. large number of students of Uttarakhand who secured good marks in their respective board examinations and aspire to complete their higher education in DAV (PG) College will be deprived of the chance if merit lists are released in the college. “The college will remain closed unless our demands are met,” she added.
DAV (PG) College Principal Devendra Bhasin said that college will release its merit list on allocated seats for bachelor degree courses as per the instruction given by the Garhwal central university. Those students who are named in the merit list will be admitted in the college. He opined that college may help students for their admission in other colleges or universities if they are not named in the merit list released by college.
Due to ongoing strike called by the student leaders in DBS (PG) College, very few students turned up in the college while some leaders were witnessed sitting outside principal’s office shouting slogans against college principal. College principal OP Kulshrestha said that as per the direction from the state government and university officers, college has decided to release merit list for admission. According to him, last year in the college, around 950 students were allowed to enroll on different degree courses against 557 allocated seats by the university. But due to limited infrastructure, college had to conduct students’ degree examination in other colleges.
Observer opined that if strike in both the colleges continues few days more, the college may face problems in conducting students’ union election. According to lyngdoh Committee recommendations, college should conduct its students’ union election within 45 days of reopening after summer vacation.