RGNUL students boycott all classes; VC calls recording revealing his consent to resignation ‘farzi’

NEW DELHI: Students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) Patiala, Punjab, have announced to boycott all classes until the vice chancellor Jai Shankar Singh steps down from his post. The RGNUL students have been protesting for the last two weeks against the VC for allegedly breaching the privacy and entering girls’ hostel mess and rooms without the presence of a female warden.

The student community, protesting since September 22, in a statement said that they stand firm on their decision and said: “On the morning of 04.10.2024, it was communicated to the University Administration that the student community intends to boycott all classes, both in online and offline mode after the Administration came to meet the student community. However, despite this, the University Administration has released a notice notifying the students of online classes w.e.f. 05.10.2024.”

It also pointed out the “blatant lies” perpetrated by the vice-chancellor. On Friday, the RGNUL VC visited the protesting students and told them his intention to submit registration. The vice-chancellor said “he would rather resign, than have an external inquiry committee look into his conduct”. The same was recorded on camera with his due consent.

“However, this afternoon, the Vice Chancellor denied any such statement made by him and claims that the recording by students is "farzi." The Hon'ble Vice Chancellor maintains his stance to not resign,” the statement read.

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Further, agitating students alleged that the VC refused to let the coolers, which were rented to satiate the unbearable heat, inside the campus. When the students approached him in his office, the VC showed complete disregard towards the students’ needs and remained firm on not allowing coolers inside the campus, the statement read.

“This incident comes in the light after 5 students have fainted in the past week owing to the circumstances of the protest and the weather conditions. The Vice Chancellor shows no remorse for his actions, and told the female students "Aap nikal rahe ho yaha se nahi? Nikal rahe ho nahi toh..." repeatedly.” Later, the students shifted their sit-in protest outside main gate and termed the administration's attitude inhuman.

The students reiterated their decision to boycott all classes until the resignation is submitted or an independent, external inquiry committee is constituted to look into the actions of the vice-chancellor.