Kundapur: Students debarred from crucial exam for not wearing uniform

Silvester D’Souza
Daijiworld Media Network – Kundapur (SP)

Kundapur, Apr 19: In an incident which exemplifies the inhuman behavior of the concerned, three final year degree students of Shankarnarayana government first grade college in the taluk were denied entry into the examination hall on Wednesday April 17 by the principal. In justification of its dastardly action, the college management cited that the students had breached the college rules by not wearing the uniforms. This, in spite of the fact that it was their final examination, which has the potential to make or mar their future.

Principal

Examinations for BBM degree students of the college, which falls under Mangalore University, began on April 8. The students had appeared for their examinations held on April 8, 10, and 15. On April 17, students named Mahesh, Santosh Kumar, and Sushant, who were to appear for their fourth examination in the subject of auditing were sent away from the examination hall, without permitting them to appear for the examination. These students, who were deprived of the opportunity on flimsy grounds, and who perhaps will lose a year as a result, have complained that the college management gave the reason of not wearing uniforms, as an excuse for this action.

The college has only three permanent lecturers, whereas the number of guest lecturers is 26. When enquired, some guest lecturers revealed that factionalism has been rampant in the college and even the guest lecturers are facing atrocities.

It is learnt that the university has not imposed any restrictions on wearing of uniforms in the colleges functioning under it. The rule regarding wearing of uniforms was brought into force because of the interest taken by the in-charge principal of the said college, Nagaraja Vaidya, it is learnt. As per the instructions of the principal, a sum of Rs 640 was collected from every student with the promise of providing two sets of uniforms to them. But the students later received only shirts but not the trousers. Even after the students approached the principal several times, there was no further progress in the matter.

It is said that the three students had worn the shirts provided by the college, but the college management found that they were not wearing trousers conforming to the colour code prescribed by the college. This sudden action baffled the students, who were helpless as the examination time had already passed and they had no time to change their dresses. Because of the unilateral and unjust action of the principal, these students have lagged behind by a year as compared to their classmates, and the course of their life may undergo irreparable diversion, other students complained.

Mamata R Shetty, Udupi zilla panchayat vice president, said that she is aware about the problems being faced by the students and guest lecturers of the college, and that she will urge the concerned to take stern action. “The future of the students has become bleak because of this unjust action. I condemn this step,” she added. Former MLA from Byndoor, K Lakshminarayana, said that he will pursue with the concerned for taking appropriate legal action against the principal, who is expected to guide the students towards a brighter future. He noted that the principal’s action in not permitting the students to write the examination is an unpardonable crime.

Former MLA from Byndoor, K Gopal Poojary, also felt that the principal of the college had erred in meddling with the future of the students just because they were not wearing the uniforms. He promised to bring the injustice to the attention of the department of collegiate education.

In-charge principal of the said college, Nagaraja Vaidya, clarified that wearing of uniforms is mandatory as per the college rules, and that the students were informed about this in advance. While agreeing that trousers, which form part of the uniforms, were not supplied to the students as promised, he said the students were sent out because of violation of rules. “The students were asked to go home and appear for the examination duly wearing their uniforms. They were also told that they would be permitted to write the examination even if they are late,” he stressed.

Mahesh, whose future has now become uncertain because of this action of the principal, said that his family is very poor, and that he works at a petrol bunk at night to pool resources for his education. “The principal collected money for the uniforms, but failed to supply them. Still, he wants us to wear the uniforms. Sending us away from the examination hall was a punishment for a mistake we never committed. He has played with our future, and we have lost a year in the process,” he rued.