Students of Christ College stage a protest in Cuttack on Wednesday. Telegraph picture

Cuttack, Jan. 5: Tension prevailed at the Christ College as students demanding proper infrastructure in the college today staged a protest inside the campus.

Raising slogans against the management, the students locked both the college gates for nearly two hours.

“It is unfortunate that despite our repeated demands for a playground, repairs of doors and windows and appointment of more teachers, no step has been taken by the college management.

“All these facilities should have been provided,” Manish Samal, president of the students’ union, said.

Students alleged that they were forced to study under hazardous conditions as the existing electricity problems have not been repaired for a long time.

“Though there is a canteen, it is not operational. There are no proper security measures to check entry of outsiders who often cause nuisance in the campus.

The students allege that there has been a rise in the number of bicycle thefts from the campus.

Though they have been demanding for appointment of security personnel and construction of a new cycle stand, the authorities are yet to take any decision on this.

“Though we have been demanding for the construction of a new cycle stand and other issues, no step has been taken to solve our problems,” said student Satyanarayan Patra.

“If the management does not initiate immediate steps to resolve our grievances we will be forced to intensify our agitation,” Patra added.

College principal P.R. Harichandan said that the students had submitted a memorandum on their demands. “However, as the matter is sub-judice, no step can be taken until the high court takes a decision. No construction can take place on the campus as the matter is pending in court.” In an interim order, the high court has allowed authorities to conduct interviews, but no appointment of junior lecturers can be made without the permission of the court. Similarly, there can be no expenditure on the construction and maintenance work till the next hearing, the principal added.