Fresher’s death: UGC seeks fresh clarification from JU on non-adherence to anti-ragging norms

Kolkata, Sep 16 (IANS) The University Grants Commission (UGC) has sought fresh clarification from the Jadavpur University to the non-adherence to nine points of anti-ragging norms as set by the commission.

In a communique on Monday evening, the UGC asked the JU to reply to the clarification sought within the next 15 days, university insiders said.

The commission has also sought clarification on the steps taken by the university authorities so far to implement the commission-set anti-ragging norms amid the recent ragging-related death of a fresher at the JU student’s hostel on August 10.

“In the last letter, the UGC has also given certain suggestions on what should be done to prevent the event of ragging within the university campus. The matter is supposed to be discussed in detail at the meeting of the working committee of the university on Tuesday,” said a JU insider.

It is learnt that the latest communique from the UGC was based on the findings of a four-member team of the commission who visited the JU campus at the beginning of this month to review the situation.

However, the JU insiders admitted that divergent opinions among the different stakeholders are the principal hurdles in strictly adhering to the anti-ragging norms of the commission within the university campus.

“Especially the initiative of the university authorities to induct retired defense personnel in the internal security team of JU has faced resistance from a section of the students’ unions. Although the work for installation of 29 artificial intelligence-enabled CCTV cameras have started finally, it happened after lots of altercations on the spots where these machines would be installed,” he said.