While the Jadavpur University authorities submitted the report on the situation in the university in writing as sought by the JU chancellor, Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, on Friday, some of the members of the Jadavpur University Teachers’ Association (JUTA), on Saturday shot off an email to Mr Tripathi seeking an appointment to voice their dissent against the JU authorities’ decision to do away with the regular admission procedure in the Humanities courses.
This came a day after JU’s vice-chancellor Suranjan Das called on Mr Tripathi to brief him on the problems being faced relating to admissions.
Mr Partha Pratim Ray, JUTA assistant secretary, said: “We have sent a mail to the chancellor this morning, requesting an immediate appointment with him. The response is awaited. Along with a silent rally within the campus, we have also called a meeting on 10 July around 2 p.m., in which all the stakeholders will take part.”
The students’ union also sent a letter to the Governor narrating their grievances and asking for his kind redressal. In yet another endeavour to bring the boiling situation under control, Mr Das wrote to the students this evening, requesting them to break their hunger strike.
But his appeal was rejected by the students who were firm on their decision. In the campus, registrar Chiranjib Bhattacharjee visited the university with a medical team to check the health status of the students sitting on hunger strike since last night.
Out of 20 students, Prantik Mondal and Sagun Hembram’s health condition was found to be declining as their blood pressure had already touched 100/60.
The protesting students refused the medical team’s advice for an emergency treatment at KPC Medical College and Hospital, saying they would stick to their hunger strike unto death.
It may be mentioned that 20 students from the university went on hunger strike last night, demanding an immediate meeting of the executive council (EC) and revival of the entrance tests for aspirants seeking admission in six subjects of the Humanities stream.
The students’ union has announced a deadline till 12 p.m. on Sunday to consider their demands. The registrar, however, said there were minimum chances of the EC meeting before Monday.
Debraj Koley, one of the senior students on hunger strike, said: “We have decided the deadline keeping in mind the urgency of the matter as the time for admission is running out. Considering the declining health status of the two students, if the authorities cite the Sunday holiday to be the reason for not considering our request, it will definitely reflect on their area of priority.”
Another third year student said that the fight was not only for resuming the entrance tests but for saving the autonomy of the institute from being destroyed at the hands of the government.
“Our VC has become frustrated due to the recent chain of developments,” rued the registrar. A senior student, however, stressed that their demand was for the basic rights.