The ongoing strike by undergraduate students of JDT’s IGNOU Community College at Vellimadukunnu here has entered the fifth day on Friday.
Around 150 students pursuing BBA, BCom, and BCA at the college under the Open University were on strike in front of the college since Monday demanding immediate issuance of their degree certificate after sorting out the legal issues involved.
The agitating students alleged that the college authorities were delaying issuing their degree certificate as a result of a legal battle going on between the university and the college authorities after the university took a decision to discontinue three courses half-way.
The JDT Community College Students Union, which is leading the agitation, alleged that the college authorities did not disclose on time, facts regarding the courses “losing” the university’s recognition. According to the union chairman Mubarish Hadif, the college authorities went ahead and admitted students to courses even after the university decided to stop them.
The college authorities, however, said they had not kept any secret from the students regarding the recognition of courses. The admission procedures were started only after getting a stay from the high court on the university decision to stop the courses in the middle of the academic year.
“We have also secured a verdict from the court on Tuesday last directing the university to conduct the pending examinations for the students and publish the result in three months time,” said C.P. Kunhumuhammed, chairman, JDT group of institutions.
But the students union said that that they would not stop the agitations until a copy of the court verdict was given to them. Advocate Mohammed Niyas, who appeared on behalf of the college authorities at the court, said Tuesday’s verdict had clearly directed the university to conduct the courses for the students. “A copy of the verdict would be available only after a week,” he said.
