The Patna University (PU) administration on Saturday locked the main gate of Patna Training College and handed over its keys to the divisional commissioner following frequent protests by various students’ unions on the campus.
Sources in the university administration said the step was taken because functioning of classes had been paralysed following protests by some students against alleged irregularities in the evaluation of answer sheets of MEd admission examination conducted last month.
PU vice-chancellor (VC) Shambhu Nath Singh said: “We are running an academic institution. We don’t have force to control activities of students’ unions. The groups have a habit of creating problems for the institute.”
The VC added: “Concerned with regular protests by these bodies, we were left with no option but to seek the help of the district administration. The varsity has started the admission process of BEd and MEd courses. But it could not be carried out because of the protest by the students’ unions on Friday. Several members of the groups had locked the entrance gate of Patna Training College, restricting the entry of students.”
On Saturday, Patna Training College administration had to face a similar situation even though the institution requested the Kadamkuan police station to help restore normalcy. The VC said: “We were helpless. Only five to six candidates, who could not clear the entrance test, created the ruckus.”
PU proctor Kriteshwar Prasad said: “The district administration assured us of providing all help with the admission process at Patna Training College starting from Monday.” The VC said: “Whenever the varsity decided to initiate any new steps, we faced protests.”
The students on Friday staged protest, demanding re-examination.
The varsity has constituted a three-member committee to look into students’ allegations that the question paper was leaked.
Randhir Kumar Singh, a teacher of Patna College, said: “The college administration had to face a humiliating situation when members of All India Students’ Association, All India Students’ Federation (AISF) and All India Democratic Students’ Organisation created a ruckus on the campus while Hindi literature critic Namwar Singh was returning after delivering a lecture on July 31 .”
The Patna College administration had then threatened to close the institute for an indefinite period.
Patna College principal Lalkeshwar Prasad Singh had said: “If such protests continue, we would have to shut down the college. We are getting little support from the police and administration.” Members of the students’ unions at Patna College were then protesting against the administration’s decision to allot hostels to students according to the years of admission.
The college administration later lodged an FIR against students who were involved in the brawl.
A senior teacher of Patna College said: “The college had decided to allot seats to students to curb incidents of ragging as there were reports of seniors ragging their juniors in the hostel.”
Sushil Kumar, an AISF member, said: “The students were protesting peacefully at Patna College and reports about taking Namwar Singh captive are not true.”
