Government bans cellphones in its colleges

The Department of Collegiate Education has issued a circular prohibiting use of mobile phones in all government and aided private colleges across the State.

A recent circular issued by the Department of Collegiate Education has prohibited not only the students, but also teachers and non-teaching staff from using mobile phones on the campuses.

The official circular on restricting use of mobile phones in government and aided colleges comes after the ban on use of mobile phones in most professional colleges, including medical and engineering colleges.

“We have issued a circular this year as it was proving to be a nuisance.

It is a distraction not only to the students carrying it, but also other fellow students.

Even if mobile phones are carried into the campus, it should be necessarily muted. If it rings, the mobile phone will be confiscated,” Commissioner of Collegiate Education Nagambika Devi told The Hindu.

Meanwhile, officials in Department of Collegiate Education said the colleges had been asked to set up committees headed by the principal and comprising a senior professor and a physical education teacher as members.

The circular prohibiting the use of mobile phones covers 357 government colleges and 299 private aided colleges in the State.