Thirteen students of the Central University of Haryana (CUH) in Mahendergarh were suspended on Thursday for allegedly creating “hindrance in the smooth functioning of academic and administrative functioning of the university”.
The suspended students, including 11 BTech students, and others have been on strike since the past 10 days against lack of infrastructure and staff in the School of Engineering and Technology.
Misbehaviour alleged
The suspension came a few hours after the agitating students — who were protesting against alleged misbehaviour by security guards with female students on Wednesday night — prevented Vice-Chancellor R.C. Kuhad from leaving the premises in his car.
They claimed the security guards used force on Wednesday to disperse students, including women, who were holding a peaceful protest outside the university’s Academic Block. They added that the guards also tore posters, prompting hundreds of students to hold a protest all night. The agitating students alleged that varsity officials misbehaved with them on Thursday and locked the building from inside to prevent them from entering the premises to drink water and relieve themselves.
‘Baseless claims’
Dismissed as “baseless” the allegations of misbehaviour by the guards, CUH spokesperson Shailender Kumar accused the students of manhandling the V-C. He claimed CUH had agreed to meet their demands in a time-bound manner and a notice in this regard was already circulated on April 15.
Lack of facilities
The students are on strike since April 9, alleging that two years after the School of Engineering and Technology was established in 2016, it still lacks minimum facilities like laboratories, building and regular staff. The School offers BTech in four disciplines.
However, a student of BTech (electrical engineering) said promises made by the administration were hollow.
“We want a letter signed by the V-C himself with a promise to meet all our demands in a time-bound manner. We believed the verbal assurances of the V-C last August but nothing happened. How can we believe the administration that laboratories will be ready in three months when construction of building is yet to start?” said the student.
CUH Finance Officer Sanjeev Kumar said the university’s notice to meet the demands of students in a time-bound manner had the approval of the V-C and was signed by the Registrar.
“It seems that some people are instigating the students. The students seemed satisfied after a marathon meeting with the V-C on Wednesday but were instigated into continuing the protest. They are coming up with new demands every other day,” said Mr. Kumar.
He added that approval of the All-India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) was not required for BTech courses as the university was autonomous body and received grants from the University Grants Commission.
