Jogesh Chandra Clg students’ body declares 5-yr ‘cooling-off’ for alumni
Kolkata: In the backdrop of the alleged gang-rape of a 24-year-old female student inside a law college in South Kolkata, the Students’ Union of Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri Law College has announced a five-year “cooling-off” period for alumni participation in union-organised events.
However, the legitimacy of the announcement has sparked debate, as no official student council currently exists in Bengal colleges due to the absence of student body elections in recent years. The unsigned statement, shared via social media under the banner of the college’s Students’ Union, claims that graduates, both undergraduate and postgraduate, will not be allowed to attend or be invited to any student union events for five years from the date of their final result declaration.
For example, students whose results were declared on June 30, 2024, will only become eligible from July 1, 2029, according to the statement. The proposal includes a few exceptions. Alumni who attain notable professional achievements within five years of graduation, such as appointments as whole-time Assistant Professors with UGC qualifications, selection via UPSC or state public service commissions, or being made partner in a law firm or legal process outsourcing (LPO) firm with at least 10 years of operations, may be exempted.
A discretionary clause also allows for the inclusion of alumni who have achieved “unquestionable success” and are deemed genuinely inspiring. Events like Saraswati Puja and traditional “Past vs Present” cricket or football matches will remain unaffected by the rule. The college, however, has distanced itself from the announcement.
“There is no official union anywhere in the state. However, we are a very old college and there are various student activities. Some students come forward to take initiative. A governing body member is in charge of them. When they propose something, the teachers convey it to me and I forward it to the GB president. However, I should not comment on what they are announcing,” said principal Sunanda Goenka.
