Showing solidarity students’ unions kept several colleges in the city shuttered on Monday. They reiterated that the DAV (PG) college principal must step down to pave way for an impartial probe into alleged irregularities. However, on the flip side, the students suffered as a result of the shutdown. Registrations, classes and admissions were disrupted.
Sounding annoyed, Preeti Rawat, a student, said they had come for registrations in B.Ed as per the earlier announcement. “I was unaware of the strike. My time has been wasted as I am returning empty-handed,” she said.
Another student Neelam Chandel said the union leaders should focus on other important issues than the one that had left the colleges closed on Monday. “ The quality of education is pathetic,” she said.
Echoing the view, Radha Chauhan and Madhuri Kandari, regular students of B. Sc 2nd year, said they had not been having practical classes. “We have done just one practical in these two years. The unions should take up these issues also,” Chauhan said.
“There is a girl’s hostel on EC Road which is being used for things that have no connection with education. Every student pays `150 for hot and cold water, but there is no such facility provided in the campus. The funds meant to be used for the library are being used for other purposes. The students have been bearing the brunt of the governmental negligence for years. We expect the unions to raise these issues too,” said Kandari.
One of the faculty said, requesting anonymity, that the principal is closed to others’ views and opinions.
“I told the students that his removal is not easy. He is unlikely to step down on his own. We are also suffering because of his autocratic style of functioning. But chances of his being removed are bleak,” he added.