Students protest move to keep EVMs at college

Gurgaon: The students of Government Girl’s College in Sector 14 have protested against the city administration’s decision to make the institute a centre for the coming general elections.
In Gurgaon district 1,113 EVMs will be set up, all of which will be kept in the college. The girls have sent an application to the deputy commissioner requesting him to shift the centre from their institute, as their final exams are approaching.

There are 7,200 students in the college and they are already facing an acute shortage of rooms. Shikha Raghav, a BA final-year student, said, “Two departments — computer science and commerce — will be taken up for the election process. This means 22 rooms will be vacated and 2,000 students will be forced to sit outside during the exams.”

TOI has learnt that the college officials have escalated the matter and sent a mail to the education department regarding the same.

“This college will be the only centre where all EVMs will be put. From May 1 to 31, the administration will take over the rooms in the college. There is already a shortage of rooms and now, with the college becoming a centre, students will have to sit in the open to take their exams. The final papers will start from April 20,” said a college official requesting anonymity.

The college comprises 7,200 students, out of them around 3,500 girls are forced to sit outside while 2,200 are studying under makeshift sheds due to lack of rooms. Only 1,500 students can be accommodated in the classrooms.

The students had submitted their request to the deputy commissioner requesting him to reconsider the decision. Amit Khatri, the deputy commissioner, said, “We will consider the request made by the students and make suitable arrangements. We will come to a conclusion soon.”