AUD Students' Council demands to revoke suspensions of 5 students
Tensions escalated in the university following the April 12 suspension of five students including elected union members for allegedly attempting to meet Vice Chancellor Anu Singh Lather.
However, the administration accused them of obstructing official duties and attempting assault, allegations that have been firmly denied by the students as well as the Students' Federation of India , which has extended support to the protest.
The suspended students were part of a demonstration against the administration's handling of a ragging case in the Karampura campus. Videos and photos circulating online reportedly show the students being beaten with sticks and physically assaulted by police and private security personnel.
Over the last 11 days, the student movement has seen a surge in participation and activity and April 15, more than 200 students participated in a 'March for Justice' on the Karampura campus, an official statement of AUDSC said.
Between April 16 and 20, General Body Meetings were held across undergraduate and postgraduate programs, all of which condemned the suspensions and called for the restoration of normalcy. Research scholars from other AUD campuses have passed solidarity resolutions backing the demands of the Karampura students.
A campus-wide class boycott was held on April 21, which the students' council claimed was successful in 20 out of 27 programs — amounting to roughly 75 per cent of lectures being boycotted. The council said this was not the first time students had resorted to such measures, recalling earlier boycotts in solidarity with the victims of the 2020 Delhi riots and to demand digital infrastructure during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Students have also launched a hunger strike, which has now entered into its second week, with many reportedly falling ill due to heat and starvation. The students claim they have made repeated efforts to meet the university administration, but no meeting has materialised despite verbal assurances.
'This raises serious questions over whether AUD's management is wishing to fight a war of attrition against its main stakeholders — the students,' the council said in its statement.
Their demands include the immediate revocation of suspensions, reopening of the main gate and removal of barricades inside the campus, withdrawal of a notice banning protests in administrative areas, cancellation of a show-cause notice issued to faculty member Dr Kaustav Banerjee for expressing solidarity with students, and restoration of the university's common mailing list, which has been disabled since March 6.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- The Hindu
SFI urges Tirunelveli Collector to inaugurate new buildings of Maanur Government College
The Students' Federation of India has urged Collector R. Sukumar to take steps for early inauguration of Maanur Government College buildings since the temporary sheds in which the college is currently functioning are not conducive for students. In a petition submitted to the Collector during the weekly grievances redressal meeting on Monday, SFI office-bearers said 288 students in five undergraduate courses in Tamil, English, Commerce, Computer Science and Mathematics studied in Government Arts and Science College, Maanur, following the announcement made by the Chief Minister in 2021. The college started functioning from 2022. As a temporary arrangement, sheds were erected on the campus of Mela Pillaiyaarkulam Panchayat Union Primary School to accommodate the students even as construction of the college buildings began at Madhavakurichi on Tirunelveli–Sankarankovil Highway. 'Even though construction of the buildings is almost over, there is no sign of shifting of the college from Mela Pillaiyarkulam to Madhavakurichi by formally inaugurating the buildings. More than 90% of the students are from poor families with the breadwinners working as farmhands or manual labourers. While the classroom sheds do not serve the purpose of teaching and learning, reaching this temporary college premises at Mela Pillaiyarkulam everyday is difficult for them. If the college buildings are inaugurated, it will be easy for the students to reach the permanent campus at Madhavakurichi. Hence, the Collector should take steps for early inauguration of the college buildings there,' said the SFI members. A group of residents from Sivagamipuram near Paappaakudi, who came to the Collectorate with empty pots, submitted a petition to the Collector seeking roads, drainage channel, community hall and drinking water. The petitioners, all from Arunthathiyar community, said none of the basic infrastructure had been created in their 100-year-old hamlet despite several petitions submitted with officials. Even though a community hall was built 20 years ago in Sivagamipuram, there was no drinking water and power connection and, hence, no villager was ready to hire tes hall for conducting functions. Consequently, the community hall was about to crumble due to zero maintenance. 'While the nearby Amarnath Nagar, housing intermediate caste residents, has all facilities, basic infrastructure is being denied to our hamlet. Hence, the district administration should sanction sufficient funds for constructing a new community hall and drainage channel, lay new roads and provide us drinking water,' the petitioners said.
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Kerala CM & governor hold talks on university governance
T'puram: Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan met governor Rajendra V Arlekar at Raj Bhavan on Sunday evening amid rising problems at universities in Kerala. The face-to-face meeting lasted nearly an hour from 3:30pm. It came at a time when the higher education sector is facing legal administrative and political challenges. Sources said they discussed issues like vice-chancellor appointments as well as the fate of university amendment bills. These bills were passed by the state assembly but withheld by the governor. Official statements from Raj Bhavan and the chief minister's office did not reveal the meeting's agenda. However it is learned that the govt's plan to appoint interim VCs to new digital and technical universities was also discussed. The governor must approve the panel recommended for these appointments. The meeting came after a recent flashpoint between the Students' Federation of India (SFI) and the governor. SFI had protested against Arlekar's comments on a Bharat Mata picture with a saffron flag. This protest triggered fresh tensions between the governor and the govt. The timing of the meeting close to the SFI agitation gave a political edge to what is usually a procedural meeting. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You To Read in 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Though the meeting has political significance it also followed protocol. Usually chief ministers meet governors after foreign trips to update them. Vijayan had returned from a medical visit to the United States. Though Vijayan and Arlekar were both at Kerala House a few days earlier they did not meet there. This added to speculation about their strained ties. Vijayan's Raj Bhavan visit is usually routine after foreign travel but now has a wider political meaning. The govt and the governor have often clashed over university governance including legislative autonomy and chancellorship powers. Sunday's talks likely covered more than just formal matters.
The Wire
2 days ago
- The Wire
After Enquiry, SAU Expels Bangladeshi Scholar After Clash Over Serving Fish on Hindu Fasting Day: Report
The move comes after an altercation occurred on February 26 between members of the Students' Federation of India and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad following the serving of fish curry on the day of Maha Shivratri South Asian University. Source: MEA website The university expelled doctoral scholar Sudipto Das, finding him 'guilty of serious misconduct'. 'Following a detailed proctorial enquiry, the university has found doctoral candidate Sudipto Das guilty of serious misconduct due to multiple instances of indiscipline. The university has ordered his immediate expulsion, permanently disqualified him from applying to any future programmes at SAU, and instructed him to vacate the hostel premises within 24 hours,' Hindustan Times quoted a senior official as saying. The university order also noted that Das had been suspended in 2022 for 'similar disruptions'. The university also fined student mess secretary Yashada Sawant an amount of Rs. 5,000 for not maintaining order at the mess when the altercation occurred. Das's expulsion comes after an altercation occurred on February 26 between members of the Students' Federation of India (SFI) in the university, and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) following the serving of fish curry in the university mess on the day of Maha Shivratri, a day when some Hindu fast. According to TOI, members of the ABVP had requested that only vegetarian food be served on the day. However, on seeing fish curry being served on the day at the university mess, they attempted to take it off the counter. Members of the SFI intervened. According to TOI, a woman member of the mess committee was allegedly manhandled as well. Arguments also broke out between members of the SFI and the ABVP, both accusing each other of instigating violence. While the SFI accused ABVP members of trying to impose their dietary preferences on others and calling this an attack on secular values, the ABVP claimed that serving non-vegetarian food on a Hindu fasting day was 'insensitive' and disrupted religious harmony, Hindustan Times reported. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
