Ravenshaw University in Cuttack. Telegraph picture

Cuttack, Jan. 21: Ravenshaw University authorities have sought Orissa High Court’s intervention against “abrupt and unauthorised closure of gates, locking of office rooms and disruption of classes at the university by student groups” as it was giving a “crippling effect” on the campus.

“Coercive demonstration by student groups for sudden shifting of examination for frivolous reasons, even if the examination dates were earlier ratified by student representatives, was upsetting the entire academic calendar.

These aspects of student unruliness have vitally affected mindset of international students, who do not want to continue their studies at Ravenshaw University if its gates are locked or examinations are shifted by a handful of students trying to demonstrate their might,” university authorities stated in a petition, adding, that university examinations have been postponed “due to such doldrums conditions”.

The vice-chancellor and registrar filed the petition in the form of a miscellaneous case yesterday when a PIL filed earlier related to Ravenshaw University came up for hearing before the two-judge bench of Chief Justice V Gopal Gowda and Justice B.N. Mohapatra. The bench posted the date of hearing to January 27. Two former student union presidents of Ravenshaw College, Akshaya Kumar Das (1971-72) and Chittaranjan Mohanty (1970-71), had filed the PIL seeking judicial intervention to restore normality on the campus when all academic activities had remained paralysed for several days in October-November last year as striking students had kept the main gates locked.

The strike was withdrawn following intervention of the high court.

The vice-chancellor and registrar have now sought intervention of the high court “to solve the problems faced by the university” after the incident involving Afghanistan students inside the campus on January 13.

The university also sought direction to the state government “to deploy adequate police contingent for smooth running of the university”.

The registrar had lodged an FIR related to the incident on that day “requesting police authorities to provide adequate contingents immediately till the university examination is over”.

“Though action has been taken by the police, it is not enough to solve the aforesaid problem for which the examination could not be conducted and the atmosphere still remains tensed. This creates problems for the students and the inmates among others,” the petition said.

According to the petition, four students had, on January 13, first come to the registrar and “demanded to begin construction and after works in the hostel” and later locked the main gate.

“Taking advantage of this problematic situation in the campus, a group clash occurred between the Afghan and Indian students in the campus, leading to the departure of 59 international students from Ravenshaw University,” the petition said.

Lalmohan Patnaik

Cuttack, January 21 - Ravenshaw University authorities have sought Orissa High Court’s intervention against “abrupt and unauthorized closure of gates, locking of office rooms and disruption of classes of the University by student groups” as it was giving a “crippling effect” on the campus.

“Coercive demonstration by student groups for sudden shifting of examination for frivolous reasons, even if the examination dates were earlier ratified by student representatives was upsetting the entire academic calendar.

These aspects of student unruliness have vitally affected mindset of international students, who do not want to continue in Ravenshaw University if its gates are locked or examination shifted by a handful of students trying to demonstrate their might.”, the University authorities have stated in a petition, adding, that University exam have been postponed “due to such doldrums conditions”.

The Vice Chancellor and the Registrar filed the petition in the form of a misc. case yesterday when a PIL filed earlier related to Ravenshaw University came up for hearing before the two judge bench of Chief Justice V.Gopal.Gowda and Justice B.N.Mohapatra. The bench posted the case for hearing to January 27.

Two former student union presidents of Ravenshaw College – Akshaya Kumar Das (1971-72) and Chittaranjan Mohanty (1970-71) had filed filed the PIL seekng judicial intervention to restore normalcy in the campus when all academic activities had remained paralyzed for days together in October-November last year as striking students had kept the main gates locked. The strike was withdrawn following intervention of the High Court.

The VC and the Registrar have now sought intervention of the High Court “to solve the problems faced by the University” after the incident involving Afghanistan students inside the campus on January 13.

The University also sought direction to the state government “to deploy adequate police contingent for smooth running of the University”.

The Registrar had lodged an FIR related to the incident on that day “requesting police authorities to provide adequate contingents immediately till the University examination is over”.

“Though action has been taken by the police but the same is not adequate to solve the aforesaid problem for which the examination could not be conducted and the atmosphere still remain tensed which not only create problems for the students but also the inmates as well as others”, the petition said.

According to the petition four students had on January 13 first came to the Registrar and “demanded to begin construction and after works in the hostel” and later locked up the main gate.

“Taking advantage of this problematic situation in the campus, a group clash occurred between the Afghan and Indian students in the campus, leading to the departure of 59 international students from Ravenshaw University”, the petition said.