The temporary campus of Kolhan University at Tata College in Chaibasa has no boundary wall or guards

When Kolhan University reopens after Durga Puja holidays on Tuesday, apprehension and anxiety will be the predominant moods on campus.

The temporary Chaibasa address of the varsity, which has no boundary wall or security guards, had played host to one of the most ignominious mass brawls at any academic hub in the state in recent times on September 20.

A group of youths, including outsiders and students, had dragged controller of examinations Ganga Prasad Singh out of his office, garlanded him with shoes and made him parade the campus apparently over centralisation of BEd admissions, invoking dread and triggering demand for police cover.

The incident, which took place in the absence of vice chancellor R.P.P. Singh who possibly was the primary target of the vandals, prompted the varsity to suspend classes a day ahead of the scheduled vacation from September 23.

Now that the holidays are over, university officials are sincerely hoping for police protection before they commence work in the right earnest.

“We will go to work tomorrow (Tuesday), but if we feel that our security is compromised, we will not turn up from the day after. Working in an unsafe environment is not acceptable,” said the dean of one of the varsity’s 22 departments.

Vice chancellor Singh tried to allay fears, saying he would seek help from the local administration (read police) before classes commenced.

“Let our teachers and officials attend work on the first day after holidays while we shall discuss police deployment on campus with the administration. Our university is new and does not have a permanent campus. Hence, safety remains a major concern. When the incident took place that day (September 20), I was not in Chaibasa. I believe I was the target, but one of our officials had to bear the brunt,” Singh said, adding that they had already sought police cover after the attack and would take the matter forward on Tuesday.

Incidentally, an FIR was lodged at Chaibasa Sadar thana against unidentified trouble-mongers for the September attack, but there has been no progress in the case.

Kolhan University, which lacks its own administrative building, has been functioning out of temporary offices at Tata College in Chaibasa. It has 14 affiliated and as many constituent colleges. A new building, on the same campus, is awaiting inauguration, but will still be devoid of boundary safety.

Student-friendly admissions

Kolhan University has decided to allow students, seeking admission to its 28 affiliated and constituent colleges, to self-attest documents in adherence to recent UGC guidelines.

Vice chancellor Singh said that though they had not yet received the central circular owing to Puja holidays, he was aware of the order and would ask colleges to follow the same.

“Universities never had any hard and fast rule on getting documents attested by gazetted officers, but colleges did for years. The new directive from the HRD ministry will make admissions more student-friendly. Candidates will not have to run from pillar to post to get their birth certificates, mark sheets, domicile certificates, et al, attested by government officials,” Singh said.

Eshani Roy, who recently enrolled in an undergraduate course at Jamshedpur Women’s College, gave a thumbs up to the decision. “Attestation was always an unnecessary headache. You needed network and money. It is good that the system is finally being abolished.”

Are you in favour of police protection on campuses? Tell ttkhand@abpmail.com