Mumbai: Members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad protested at the Kalina campus of Mumbai University on Thursday over alleged administrative irregularities and misbehavior with students by officials of the university’s examination department.
BJP’s student wing ABVP accused the university of suppressing the voices of students and ignoring their constitutional rights and made several other allegations, including that of hostels.
A university official has so far responded to one allegation related to the hostels.
According to ABVP members, students who raised concerns about alleged inefficiencies in the university’s examination department were given disciplinary notices instead of receiving redress.
The students had cited delay in issuing necessary documents. ABVP said the documents should have been provided within eight days but it often takes up to 25 days.
The student body claimed that two female students, who were seeking updates on their documents, were allegedly misbehaved and used obscene language by an official and their papers were allegedly thrown away.
It also accused exam controllers of refusing to resolve complaints or engage with aggrieved students.
The ABVP said in a statement that Mumbai University officials met their members after a protest two days ago and gave verbal assurances, but later issued a notice to their Mumbai Metropolitan Secretary Prashant Mali, who led the protest.
The move prompted the student body to hold another protest on Thursday.
ABVP said attempts were being made to protect “corrupt” and “incompetent” officials.
“Why is the university trying to suppress the voice of students? Are students not allowed to protest against the inconveniences and atrocities they face? Does the university not give importance to democratic norms,” Mali asked.
ABVP activists have also claimed irregularities in the university’s hostels, including unauthorized installation of an LED TV and an air conditioner in a student’s room. It said an open pit near the hostel for blind students was lying open for five months.
The student body claimed that its members saw “piles” of liquor bottles on the university campus.
A university official told PTI that they allowed a student to install TV and AC on medical grounds after following all the rules. The official said the university also recovered appropriate fees from the student.
This article was generated from an automated news agency feed without any modifications to the text.
