Kolkata: SRFTI students on Sunday night shared a second letter from parents to the administration, reiterating unresolved concerns and demanding immediate action. Responding to the letter, SRFTI VC Santosh Ajmera told TOI that classes could resume on priority if students “send their willingness for joining the classes sooner”.“Being a parent myself, I am fully aware of the concerns of our students’ parents. Our faculties have been in touch with some of them. However, these are unprecedented times. We appeal to all to have a patience and help us restore normalcy. We are ensuring peace and security on campus,” Ajmera said.“Some students are giving the agitation a political colour, impacting the academic careers of the larger body. The institute will take care of all its good students and ensure that their careers don’t get impacted due to a few who have vested interests in prolonging the agitation,” he added.Ajmera assured parents that normalcy would return soon and urged students willing to attend classes to communicate their willingness to the administration.SRFTI bye-laws state that “all political activities whether covert / overt” are “absolutely banned within the campus” and “in relation” to the institute. Violations constitute a “major offence”.Five students have been rusticated for two semesters and one for three semesters, while approximately 25 others have received show-cause notices. However, the bye-laws allow students to appeal disciplinary orders before the Extraordinaire Governing Council, the designated appellate authority.SRFTI students’ union president Blossom Hazarika told TOI: “All six rusticated students have collectively appealed on Oct 16. This was immediately after the notices were received the evening before. Till date, we haven’t received any reply to our email.”Hazarika said the rusticated students had approached the executive council, formerly the governing council, while those served show-cause notices had responded individually. TOI has received a copy of the collective appeal.Repeated messages to the SRFTI registrar seeking an explanation for the appeal remaining unacknowledged for nearly a month went unanswered.Under the bye-laws, rustication is a temporary punishment, distinct from permanent expulsion. Show-cause notices carry a maximum limit of 15 days. No student involved in the current controversy has been expelled. Rustication can be imposed for acts “deemed to be intimidating to the conducive environment” of SRFTI or “any other act likely to bring disrepute” to the institute. Rusticated students must leave hostels immediately, and the punishment is recorded in their files. Expulsion permanently debars students from readmission to SRFTI.
Discover more from updatview
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
