Model Code of Conduct to be brought in colleges, varsities: Partha Chatterjee

State Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Sunday said the code of conduct for the colleges and universities could be implemented. The Minister was addressing the students of Asutosh College at their convocation ceremony on Sunday at Nazrul Manch.

The code of conduct would include dos and don’ts for the students, teachers and non-teaching stuff in every university and college and the guidelines will have to be followed strictly. Dodging the guidelines will mean that the offender will face disciplinary action from of the college or university authority.

Attendance related issues – involving students as well as professors, agitations by students, gherao, and student-teacher spats have often vitiated the atmosphere in colleges and universities. The model code of conduct would impose restrictions on all such issues in the educational institutions.

“We are thinking about introducing a model code of conduct in the universities and colleges across the state. The code of conduct would be applicable for students, teachers and non-teaching staff as well,” said the Education Minister, adding that his ministry will “not spare a situation where students do not come for classes. 

The students cannot illegally protest in any educational institution, we will not spare the road blockade, gherao-movement. The problems can be solved only by discussions.”

Even Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi, Chancellor of all the universities in the state, had earlier asked for such a model code of conduct. The Education Minister too has contemplated issuing a model code of conduct at all levels. Some colleges have already initiated the process of taking biometric attendance and others too have taken necessary steps towards it.

It is to be noted that former Vice-Chancellor of University of Calcutta, Sugata Marjit, who recently stepped down, had advised the agitating students to end their protests which creates several problems for teachers and students attending classes. He also had said that such activities bring no solution to the real problems of students and only increase harassment in the campus.

Tripathi, who was also present in Sunday’s convocation ceremony along with the Education Minister, had supported Marjit’s statement.