Patna, July 8: From this session, campus chaos is likely to make fewer headlines. For, students taking admission to colleges under Patna University this year would have to give an undertaking that they would be liable to strict legal and administrative action for any misdemeanour. Their parents would also have to sign on the declaration.

The university issued a circular on July 5, asking all its constituent colleges to get an affidavit signed by students and their parents during admission stating that strict action would be initiated against those indulging in ruckus or any other kind of misbehaviour on the campus. It also talks about taking strict action against those taking part in ragging.

The two-page affidavit to be filled in and signed by the students and their parents would read that if the students are found guilty of ragging or any other anti-academic activities, they would be liable to punishment. The parents would have to make following declaration in the affidavit:

n My ward will not indulge in any behaviour or act that may be constituted as ragging under Clause 3 of the regulations of the University Grants Commission.

The university sources claimed that the reason behind issuing the directive is to check eve-teasing, group clash, ragging and anti-academics activities on the campus. It is being seen as an attempt to maintain law and order in educat- ional institutes.

On Thursday, a group of students allegedly assaulted an employee of BN College. The unruly students damaged office furniture and allegedly snatched around Rs 2,000 from the employee, B.J. Krishna, on the college campus. The affidavits would put brakes on such incidents.

Randhir Kumar Singh, a teacher at Patna College said: “For the first time, the university has decided to take strict action against growing indiscipline and ragging on the campus.”

M.N. Sinha, the principal in-charge of BN College, said: “The affidavit to be filled by the students and parents has legal implications. For the first time, such a step has been taken to check ragging.”

Students who had come to take admission to BN College also hailed the decision of the university.

Anil Sharma, one of the admission seekers, said: “The new step of the varsity will help in checking the growing incidents of ragging and eve-teasing on the college campus.”

The university’s circular, however, has created some confusion among teachers and admission in-charge of various colleges.

Singh, the Patna College teacher, said: “Had the letter been issued earlier we could have circulated the affidavit format among students with the admission forms. Now the process will be delayed as several students have taken admission.”