Kolkata’s Law College Vice Principal resigns after 23-hour student protest over attendance
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The Vice Principal of the Surendranath Law College in Kolkata resigned from her designation on Friday (September 11) after she faced a 23-hour long gherao protest by students over attendance requirements. The Vice Principal alleged a case of targeting, while Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad called it as a win of the students and “purified” the place with Ganga Jal.
The hours of stand-off between the students led by the ABVP and the Vice Principal Mohammadi Tarannum saw many rounds of heated arguments. Ms Tarannum also alleged that the students forced her to stay confined in her room and also turned off the lights and fan.
The dispute started over the 70% attendance requirement for appearing in semester examinations, a criteria that many students have not been able to meet.
“I... hereby tender my resignation from the said position due to certain unavoidable family, health-related and personal issues,” the Vice Principal’s resignation stated.
However, she told mediapersons that she was targeted by the students and that she was forced to resign. She also said that she had asked for help from Kaustav Bagchi, minister-in-charge of the Department of Higher Education, who according to her, had said would intervene.
“The 70% attendance requirement is set by the Bar Council of India, neither me nor anyone else can alter this. I cannot take this pressure anymore. I fell sick, I was locked here for the whole night, no one came to rescue me,” Ms. Tarannum said.
“I did not resign, I did not resign,” Ms. Tarannum said repeatedly as she was escorted out of the college with several police officers on her side as the situation remained tense.
However, Mr. Bagchi told local media channels that he also agrees about the attendance requirement for the semester examination. “However, that place does not even have a proper attendance register. How will they keep attendance if there is no system in place?“ Mr. Bagchi said. He also said that there was a culture of political favouritism, with an inclination towards the previous Trinamool Congress government.
“Students will not tolerate discrimination, arbitrary decisions, or misuse of authority in educational institutions. The Vice-Principal’s resignation is a victory for students’ rights and academic justice,” Ananta Barui, State Media In-charge, ABVP said.
“We wanted to purify the place so we sprinkled Ganga Jal and lit some incense sticks. We had to get the previous regime out of her room,“ Veenit Sharma, a first-year law student at the college told The Hindu.
Mr. Sharma also alleged that whoever went to Trinamool rallies during the previous regime used to get 100% attendance.
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