West Bengal: Curfew-hour boards taken off Jadavpur University gates

KOLKATA: Jadavpur University has removed the notice boards declaring that outsiders would not be allowed on campus without valid reason and prior permission. The decision to do away with the boards three days after they had been put up at the gates was taken at the stakeholders’ meeting on Wednesday.
It was also decided that suggestions would come in from all stakeholders within three weeks on how to improve the safety and security on the campus.
Sources said the authorities admitted to a misunderstanding over the use of the word ‘outsider’, to which nearly everyone present objected.
Pro-VC Chiranjib Bhattacharjee said, “The language used on the board was contradictory to the open culture that JU has always stood for. The intention was to spread awareness regarding consumption of alcohol and narcotics substances on campus. But the boards did not serve the purpose. So we decided to take them off.”
JUTA general secretary Partha Pratim Ray said, “The intention was never to stop the vibrant exchange of ideas on campus and restrict students and scholars from other campuses who visit the premises for different purposes.” He added everyone admitted there was a problem of security on campus that hampers academic activities in the evening. “It is an alarming situation on campus and the administration has failed to control it,” said Goutam Maity, on behalf of ABUTA, JU local chapter.
Gourav Das, general secretary of FETSU, said, “At the meeting, we wanted to know how the boards were put up without consulting the students.”
Zulfikar Ahmed, SFI leader and student of International Relations, said, ““We will propose setting up of more lights and a group to patrol the campus after 8pm.”