Kolkata: Surendranath Law College vice principal resigns after student protest over attendance requirement

Kolkata: The vice principal of Surendranath Law College here on Friday resigned from her post after protests by a section of students against the attendance requirement for appearing in semester examinations. Mohammadi Tarannum tendered her resignation after being gheraoed by students for nearly 23 hours who staged a sit-in outside her room.

Tarannum told reporters she was forced to resign and sent her resignation to both Calcutta University vice chancellor and Higher Education Department, while alleging that she was a "victim of conspiracy", and that she was not allowed even basic amenities such as water, electricity and food by the agitators during the gherao.

"Some people against the move to instill discipline among students were hell-bent on removing me. I am appealing to the higher education minister to set the wrong right. I believe in transparency in the examination system . "I have no links with the TMC as alleged by a section of the students.

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Yes, I may have been associated with Left politics in the past but had never worked to serve anyone's interest... I had to quit due to pressure from students," she added. She claimed to have conveyed the matter to Governing Council chairman Kaustav Bagchi, the Higher Education Department and the Calcutta University demanding intervention to resolve the impasse but "none came forward".

Attendance rule sparks student protest

As she was leaving the campus, a section of the students raised slogans and mobbed her car. The dispute began after the college issued a notice stating that students would not be allowed to sit for examinations unless they had at least 75 per cent attendance. The issue subsequently escalated over the filling up of examination forms.

The agitators said that Bagchi, a BJP MLA and lawyer, intervened into the matter and said that students with attendance below 75 per cent could be allowed to appear for the examinations after submitting a self-declaration. However, during the form-filling process, the attendance criterion remained a contentious issue and it was decided that students would need at least 40 per cent attendance, they said.

Accusing the vice principal of precipitating the issue, Bagchi said, "She had created an anti-student mechanism. The 75 per cent attendance criterion is logical but students were victimised and they lived under pressure for speaking out on several issues.

Students fear exam eligibility loss

Why don't the authorities start dialogue in an open and fear-free atmosphere with the students who are willing to sit for exams after fulfilling the eligibility criterion?" The agitating students, however, expressed fear that around 600 of nearly 900 students would be unable to appear for the examinations if the 75 per cent attendance criterion was implemented.

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In one semester, 144 of 180 students reportedly had attendance below 40 per cent, the agitating students claimed. College authorities and students held a meeting with Bagchi on Thursday, following which it was decided that students would be allowed to appear for the examinations on the basis of self-declarations. The decision, however, failed to completely resolve the issue, leading to protests on the college premises.