Deadlock: Law students lock the Bistupur-based office of Ranchi University to protest against the postponement of their examinations. Picture by Bhola Prasad

Jamshedpur, Sept. 6: Over 100 students from Jamshedpur Co-operative Law college entered the Ranchi University branch office in Bistupur today and closed it down for an indefinite period.

The student’s move comes in the wake of the university’s sudden decision to postpone the third semester of the law examination till “further notice”.

According to earlier circulars issued by the university, the semester examination was supposed to begin from September 5, but with the sudden delay students said that their session would now be delayed almost by a year.

“There seems to be no end to our problems. Our affiliation was cancelled in 2005 by the Bar Council of India as we did not have a separate building and infrastructure. We were given three years to get our own building, out of which two years have gone by. Now comes this delay in exam dates, which leaves us with no option but to begin mass movement so that students can get justice,” rued Manoj Choubey, member of Jamshedpur Law Students’ Union.

The RU move would also affect the academic semester of students at Chotanagpur Law College in Ranchi, the only other law college in the state. Around 1,000 students are likely to be affected by this delay. The delay has, however, been announced in wake of the forthcoming university students’ election.

“According to norms, students of professional courses do not have any role in college or university elections. So why are we made scapegoats? The vice chancellor (VC) should assure us that the exams would be held as soon as possible,” said an agitating student.

Choubey added: “The branch office has been closed for an indefinite period and we will only allow official proceedings to take place if our demands are not met.”

RU officials however said that in all possibility, the branch office would commence its functioning from tomorrow.

Tomorrow, the students’ union has called another meeting to decide their next course of action.

“This has to be a mass movement, so we will burn an effigy of VC, A.A. Khan, once he visits Jamshedpur Women’s College on Saturday,” said a student.

S.S. Razi, the co-ordinator of Ranchi University branch office said: “Deciding dates of examinations does not fall under my purview. It is up to the examination department to decide that, but the final decision would only be taken after consulting with the VC.”