Will consider VRS if agitation continues, says principal of Jogesh Chandra College

Kolkata: In the wake of student agitation at Jogesh Chandra Chaudhuri College on Prince Anwar Shah Road, the principal of the college said on Thursday that he may step down from his post.

"The college is bound by some rules and if I fail to follow these rules and regulations, then I will opt for VRS (Voluntary Retirement Scheme)," said Pankaj Roy, the college principal.

It may be mentioned that a section of the students who had failed in the Part III selection test, have been holding a demonstration on the campus since Tuesday, demanding that they should be allowed to write the final exams which is scheduled for April.

"There should be a limit to such demands. It is becoming a routine affair. I cannot tolerate this for long. So I have to think of taking alternative steps," Roy said in a clear indication of stepping down.

According to college sources, around 280 BA, BSc and BCom students of the college - affiliated to Calcutta University, had failed in the Part III selection test. Around 200 of them have been agitating.

Twenty-seven of the 150 candidates in BCom, 30 of the 50 students in BSc and only three of the 100-odd students in BA have scored the qualifying marks.

"There are candidates who have performed very poorly. Some candidates have got zero. All of them want us to allow them to write the Part III exams," a teacher said.

A meeting of the governing body of teachers was held on Wednesday and the cut-off marks for the selection test was brought down.

However, around 90 of the students still figured in the failure list. The students are rigid that all of them should be allowed to sit for the examination.

"The cut off was brought down to 15 percent but these 90-odd students could not come even in this list. How can we compromise with the standard?" a senior teacher said.