Cuttack: The SCB Medical College and Hospital authorities closed the Nursing College on the hospital premises here on Saturday in view of the rising cases of COVID-19.
“As per order of the Additional Chief Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department as communicated by the Director of Nursing, the College of Nursing, SCB MCH is hereby closed until further orders in view of the increasing COVID cases,” read an order issued by the office of the principal of the college.
The students have been asked to vacate the hostel by 5 pm. “All the students have been directed to vacate the hostels by 5 pm today failing which they will be evacuated with the help of district administration,” it added.
Sources, however, attributed the decision to the long-standing face-off between the students and the principal.
It may be mentioned here that the nursing students had recently staged a weeklong dharna demanding the removal of the principal, following which the latter had gone on leave for three days.
Talking to mediapersons, some students said that the principal, on the pretext of the directive of the ACS, Health, has ordered the closure of their institution.
“While other colleges and hostels in the city are open amid COVID-19 pandemic, why the principal has ordered the closure of the nursing college and asked us to vacate the hostel?. This is nothing but a conspiracy to harass us,” the students pointed out.
They further alleged that the hostel superintendent on Wednesday had threatened to write to the government and close the college and hostel if they did not withdraw the agitation.
The principal was not available for comment on this matter.
