Ravenshaw University Back To Normal As Sine Die Lifted

Photograph: Suprakash Mishra

Cuttack: The sine die closure that was imposed in the Ravenshaw University here on May 9 following students’ unrest was withdrawn on Saturday afternoon.

According to sources, the students came back to the hostel.

The decision to lift sine die from the educational institution was taken at a meeting of the residence committee on Friday. Following the meeting, university Vice Chancellor Ishan Kumar Patro had clarified that examinations of all departments of the university will be completed between May 17 and 20. The results of will be declared on May 27, he had added.

Patro further said that steps will be taken to prevent entry of outsiders into the campus.

The agitating students of Ravenshaw University had called off the strike after holding discussions with the VC on Thursday.

The move came a couple of hours after Governor and Chancellor of State Universities Satya Pal Mallik had directed the varsity authorities to resolve the concerns raised by the agitating students through discussion.

The members of All India Democratic Students’ Organisation (AIDSO) had submitted a memorandum to the Governor the previous day, seeking withdrawal of sine die closure that was imposed on Tuesday following students’ unrest.

A group of students had also staged a dharna near the varsity campus over the issue. They had earlier expressed displeasure over the authorities’ decision to close the varsity sine die, stating that it was not a solution to any issue.

The university was closed sine die after hundreds of students staged a mass demonstration on the campus and gheraoed the vice chancellor’s office, protesting against fee hike and other pressing issues, on Tuesday.

The students under the aegis of Ravenshaw Chhatra Kriyanusthan Committee were opposing the exorbitant hike in fee and the arbitrary decision taken by the university authorities to vacate the hostels by May 28 for carrying out renovation work.

They were also demanding immediate withdrawal of the decision to introduce compulsory meals for hostel inmates and re-introduction of previous instant examination system for final-year students.