Mangalore: PU Students, Parents Storm into Principal’s Chamber
The Hindu
Pics: Prajwal Ukkuda
Mangalore, Mar 13: A group of students of the St. Aloysius Pre-University College and their parents stormed into the chamber of the principal of the college here on Thursday alleging that he was not issuing hall tickets to students for the second year pre-university examinations, starting on Friday.
The students alleged that the principal was not issuing the hall tickets although they had 75 per cent attendance in all subjects, one of the eligibility criteria fixed by the Department of Pre-University Education to appear for the examinations. Senior police officials stood guard on the college premises from the afternoon till late evening to ensure that the situation would not go out of control.
Allegations denied
However, principal of the college John D’Silva told presspersons that the allegations made by students and parents were false. The hall tickets had been denied to 12 students as they did not meet the prescribed attendance criterion. The hall tickets had been denied to them under sub-section 12 (1) of Karnataka Pre-University Education (Academic, Registration, Administration and Grant-in-aid etc.) Rules, 2006, which referred to “attendance required by the students to appear for the examinations,” he said.
The college had been mailing the monthly performance reports of each student to their parents, regularly. They contained details of subject-wise attendance and marks scored in tests and examinations. In addition, a consolidated report was displayed in the notice board. The college also maintained the reports in the form of a book form, Mr. D’Silva said.
Asked about the allegations that the college had issued hall tickets to some students who did not meet the attendance criterion, the principal said that those who used to participate in sports, NCC, NSS and Scouts and Guides activities, and those who represented the college in inter-collegiate competitions were being granted attendance for the period of their absence for that period, subsequently. Those who had made such allegations might not be aware of this system, he said. He also denied the allegations of beating some students. Jyothi Shetty, a parent, alleged that the principal had made her daughter, a second year Commerce student, to wait in his chamber for hours every day in September last for some mischief she had been accused of. The principal was not showing the attendance register of her daughter, she added. Mr. D’Silva denied these allegations. Srinidhi, national executive committee member of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishat, told presspersons that the college had denied hall tickets to “30 to 40 students”. The college had not issued notices to students who had shortage of attendance, he added.