In its previous statement, NLU Odisha’s administration had alleged that the protests were strategically planned to disrupt significant events at the University. It had also questioned the authenticity and legitimacy of the Student Council, which had called for these protests.
Odisha: The administration of National Law University Odisha (NLU Odisha) has taken back its earlier press statement, which had labeled the ongoing student protests at the University as illegal and as a form of arm-twisting.
In its previous statement, NLU Odisha’s administration had alleged that the protests were strategically planned to disrupt significant events at the University. It had also questioned the authenticity and legitimacy of the Student Council, which had called for these protests.
The administration remarked,
“It is usually believed that students are always right and the administration is always lacking. In this case, it is a clear situation where the students of NLUO have decided to pressure the University to concede to their illegal, unlawful, and unreasonable demand to set aside the evaluation for tutorial classes by protesting at a crucial time for the University.”
The latest statement issued by the University reads, “In the further interest of the Student Body and for restoring conducive academic atmosphere in the University campus, NLUO has decided to withdraw the press statement released yesterday.”
The protests were initiated by the Student Council last week, on January 24. The primary issues highlighted by the students include inadequate infrastructure, unfair academic policies, insensitivity towards mental health, and breaches of their privacy.
The University’s administration later issued a clarification, stating that the protests stemmed from dissatisfaction with the Academic Council’s decision to evaluate tutorial classes. Vice-Chancellor Prof Ved Kumari mentioned that her position does not allow her to overturn this decision unilaterally. However, she assured that the matter would be presented at the next Academic Council meeting.
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Addressing the situation, Prof Ved Kumari said, “The unreasonable and malafide nature of their protest is manifested in their actions yesterday. After the Registrar, Chief Warden, and Controller of exam on behalf of the Vice Chancellor agreed to take two interim measures of suspending evaluation till the next Academic Council meeting and partial opening of the Academic Block to which the members of the Student Council agree to stop the protest, and the Vice Chancellor agreed to meet them, they backtracked and started asking for acceptance of more demands by the Vice Chancellor including an open ended GBM.”
The Student Council has announced that the protests will continue. The Chancellor of the University, who is also the Acting Chief Justice of the Orissa High Court, Justice Chakradhari Sharan Singh, has promised to meet with the Student Council on February 3.
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The Student Council also made their stance clear through a statement on social media, saying, “…this demonstration will only be called off upon written assurance addressing our non-negotiable demands.”
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