Admission row: JU students gherao V-C, senior officials for 3rd day

Kolkata: Students of the arts faculty at Jadavpur University gheraoed the vice-chancellor of the varsity Suranjan Das and other senior officials, in protest over the university's decision to scrap the admission test for six Humanities subjects in the undergraduate level.

The students had started their agitation from Wednesday evening, soon after the Executive Committee (EC) - the highest decision-making body of the varsity, decided to stall the admission test for this year and announced that admission will be on the basis of marks in higher secondary or equivalent examination.

Vice-chancellor Suranjan Das on Thursday condemned the manner in which a section of students had resorted to agitation. "It is unfortunate that the students have kept us under wrongful confinement. Students have every right to protest in a democratic manner if they have different viewpoints but they are infringing our rights by confining us in this manner," Das said.

He reiterated that he is duty-bound to implement the EC's decision, as long as he is in the chair of V-C. "Can you name a single university in the country where students decide what the process of admission will be? I am putting this question forward to every member of the civil society," he added.

JU has decided to go on with their admission process, amidst the student agitation. The merit list for admission will be published on July 19. The admission will take place on July 27, 28, 30 and 31 and classes will commence from August 1.

The dates for submission of applications have also been extended from July 6 to 12. Governor Keshari Nath Tripathi's secretary called up Das on Wednesday and enquired about the situation. "We are ready to submit a report to the Governor, who happens to be the chancellor of the university, if he wants," a senior JU official said.

Jadavpur University Teachers' Association (JUTA) has decided to observe ceasework in protest against the varsity's decision and held a sit-in demonstration from 12 noon till 3 pm on Thursday, to protest the varsity's decision of deviating from the process of admission through admission tests.

"We will continue our agitation till withdrawal of the decision as admission test has been the tradition of this institution," said Somashree Roy Chowdury, an AFSU member.

It may be mentioned that JU had earlier decided to hold admission tests for six Humanities subjects in the undergraduate level, namely English, Bengali, Political Science, History, Philosophy and Comparative Literature.

They had announced that the final merit list for admission will be prepared on the basis of 50 percent of the total marks secured in HS or equivalent examination and 50 percent of the marks secured in admission tests.