National University of Study and Research in law (NUSRl) students’ agitation which started on Monday continued for the third day, with no significant development on Wednesday.
A team of the Jharkhand High Court visited the campus but failed to convince agitating students.
On the other hand, around a dozen amongst agitating students sat on an indefinite hunger strike until their agitation was taken seriously enough by the authorities and demands were met then and there.
After two days of agitation, Judges of Jharkhand High Court Aparesh Kumar Singh, Justice S Chandrashekhar and Justice Rajesh Shankar along with Jharkhand Judicial Academy Director Gautam Chaudhary visited NUSRl campus on Wednesday morning. Though the students appeared to have indulged in a healthy discussion with the authorities, the conversation failed to garner any positive result and the authorities returned back handed.
As the Faculty and the Vice Chancellor BC Nirmal stood outside the lockdown gate, the students allowed the bank employees and resident faculty members to enter the campus while peacefully holding out banners, demanding the resignation of the VC despite repeated ultimatum given by the administration on a daily basis since the beginning of the protest.
According to sources, the sole demand of students of getting all their demands fulfilled then and there has dragged the whole situation to an ugly crossroads. Nirmal said on Wednesday that he had been doing whatever he could for the betterment of the institution and he would be doing the same in his capacity.
“But now that the High Court Chief Justice, who is also ex-officio Chancellor of NUSRl, has taken things in its hand and is competent and equipped to handle the situation better than anybody else, I will always adhere to his directions,” said Nirmal. He, however, maintained his position that handful of students were busy denting not only the reputation of campus, but were also earning bad names for themselves. Jharkhand High Court Joint Registrar (Vigilance) also visited the University in the evening and took notes from students of grievances.
Notably, the VC had already issued an ultimatum to withdraw the protest on very first day of the agitation on Monday this week, saying that failing to it might attract strict actions against them, none of the protesting students left the venue. They repeated on Wednesday that that they will continue the protest irrespective of everything and in any circumstance.
The agitating students reiterated their demands like complete administrative overhaul including the resignation or removal of Vice-Chancellor and Registrar, audit of the financial records of the University by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India or any other unbiased external authority, putting annual Audit reports of the Accounts of the University in public domain, release of funds as promised by the State Government and appointment of Review Commission by the Chancellor.