Jadavpur University EC restores entrance test; students call off hunger strike, VC wants to resign

NEW DELHI, JULY 11: Bowing down to the pressure from protesting students, Jadavpur University has reversed its July 4 decision of scrapping entrance tests in six subjects of the Arts stream. The University Executive Council has decided to continue with the previous practice that included entrance exam as key component for admissions.

The EC has decided to give 50% weightage to the marks attained in the entrance test and the remaining 50% to class 12 board exam marks.

On the other hand, following the EC decision, the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Suranjan Das, who was facing the heat, has expressed his willingness to resign from the post. Reportedly, VC along with the Pro-VC declined to be part of the EC’s resolution and said that he wanted to be ‘relieved’ of his duties.

The VC said that “both of us are of the view that the situation in the university has become such that it is virtually impossible for us to be a part of its governance.” Therefore, we would seek from the Governor, the Chancellor of the university, permission to step down, he added.

The indefinite hunger strike by the students was called off after 96 hours following the Council’s decision to reinstate the entrance exam for the six undergraduate courses. The protesting students had received support from alumni as well as a few faculty members.

On June 27, the EC had passed a resolution to hold entrance tests for the six undergraduate courses. This decision was later overturned on July 4 scraping the entrance tests. Yesterday, the EC has again met and resolved to hold entrance tests for the exams will will amount to 50% of the score.

The student body, though, they have called off the indefinite hunger strike, has decided to continue with their protest as the EC has not decided on the conducting body for the entrance test.

One of the protesting students, Abhijeet Sarkar said, “Our struggle for democratic autonomy has finally come victorious after nearly 100 hour-long hunger-strike, there were attempts to pressurise us to call off the strike but we refused to budge until our demands were met. Four of our friends were hospitalised but we are all united.”