The students of NUSRL Ranchi after years of suffering and indolent attitude of the administration turned brought their voes to the public via a petition at Change.Org. The complete petition can be read here which has got more than 800 supporters.
As per the petition NUSRL Ranchi is the most expensive NLU in the country, a student pays approximately 1,90,000/- for two semesters, yet the facilities, academic and non-academic alike fall despicably short of appropriate standards, the administration teems with nepotism, neglect and shows negligible concern for actual welfare and Development of the institution.
The commotion came to the limelight on 7th of April when NUSRL Ranchi students boycotted an exam to protest the alleged lack of a competent teaching faculty to teach the psychology paper.
Thereafter, it’s the third day today that NUSRL is at fire.
As per the reports of Bar and Bench’s interview with the Vice Chancellor of the University, the University owes Central Public Works Department, Ranchi. Rs. 42 crore in dues for construction on the campus. The University, as Vice-Chancellor Dr. BC Nirmal, the Vice Chancellor of the University reveals, is in no position to pay that amount. He adds that the Jharkhand government has not fulfilled its promise of funding the University. He says,
“When NUSRL was first launched, the Chief Minister promised to give huge funds to make it a global standard University. We were provided about 63 acres of land by the government. We received 50 crore rupees in three instalments – 1 crore in 2010, 2 crore in 2011, and 47 crore in 2012.
The construction costs alone amounted to 85 crore rupees. We have already paid 50 crore, but 35 crore and additional 7 crore in interest is due to the CPWD. They are now insisting that if we don’t pay, they will go for arbitration.”
The University has been under lockdown by the students since three days. However, faculty staying there and the people accessing the Bank are being given free access.
An open letter published at medium.com shows a disturbing picture of the approach taken by the administration towards the issues raised by the students. It seems they are entering into a blame game without accepting the err done and fixing the mess.
A Facebook Page has been started by the aggrieved students, wherein they have raised a five point agenda:
- The resignation or removal of Mr, Nirmal and Mr. Mitra.
- An independent audit of NUSRL’s financial accounts.
- The publication of NUSRL’s financial accounts at the beginning of every financial year. NUSRL has violated the law under its constitutional statute by omitting to publish these for the last four years.
- Release of funds by the state government for the completion of campus construction work by the Central Public Works Department (CPWD)
- The constitution of a review commission for NUSRL, which is statutorily already two years overdue.
A lot of student associations of various National Law Universities have shown support for this cause.
The University has also issued an appeal which is requesting the students to stop their agitation, else they will face consequences which is pathetic in itself as instead of assurance and solution it is trying to suppress and curb the agitation.
As per the reports of Legally India, NUSRL Ranchi students on campus lockdown protests were visited today by four judicial dignitaries to discuss their demands and “addressed the grievances of the students and gave assurances to resolve their issues”, according to a press statement from the student body.
“However, prone to such assurances over the past, the students are determined to continue with the protest till a concrete action is taken. Owing to the loss of academics, the senior most batch has decided to conduct classes for the students at the place of protest,” the statement from students added.
It is a high time the government should intervene and address the issues involving all the stakeholders, especially students.
Lawlex Team has written to NUSRL Ranchi administration and is awaiting their response.
Courtesy: Bar and Bench, Legally India, Lawctopus and Live Law