Protest by NLUO students enters 4th day
Cuttack: The impasse over alleged apathy of National Law University Odisha (NLUO) administration towards “issues adversely affecting the living and working conditions within the campus” continued on Monday. The indefinite protest by students, which started since 9 am on Jan 24, showed no signs of letting up as it entered the fourth day.
The vice-chancellor made it clear through an email to the students’ council that she would be available for talks only after Jan 28. When contacted by TOI, members of the students council, who did not want to be named, said, “We have no option but to continue with our protest due to lack of adequate and efficient response from the university.”
According to the student council’s statement released to the press, their grievances include “arbitrary imposition of university policies on students” and “lack of infrastructural access.”
In a reply to the students council’s 24-hour notice, vice-chancellor Ved Kumari, through an email at 11.04 pm on Jan 23, 2024, said, “The administration is as much interested in the peaceful resolution of all issues and believes that all issues may be resolved peacefully. It is up to the students to decide the best course of action for them and their university.”
“I promised the student council members that I would be available for conversation after Jan 28, and I reiterate that,” the vice-chancellor wrote, citing the visit of the review commission on Jan 27 and 28.
The students council, in their press statement, alleged that essential services like WiFi connectivity, air conditioning, and basic sanitation facilities in washrooms remain non-functional. Access to library resources has also been limited, creating additional barriers to learning.
In her email to the students council, the vice-chancellor said, “The UGC guideline obligates the university to create a mechanism for student consultation. NLUO has created that mechanism by provision of the students council. It is the students who do not want to be part of that mechanism.”
“We are at the fag-end of January 2025, while the current academic session began in July 2024. The student council membership was finally completed just ten days or so back after my repeated reminders to initiate the process of creating a student council. The members to date have not been able to hold internal elections and choose the four representatives, and that too despite umpteen reminders from me,” the VC regretted.
“I once again request the members of the students council to elect their executive members, constitute various committees for student activities, and participate constructively in improving the ranking of the university,” the VC added.
The vice-chancellor made it clear through an email to the students’ council that she would be available for talks only after Jan 28. When contacted by TOI, members of the students council, who did not want to be named, said, “We have no option but to continue with our protest due to lack of adequate and efficient response from the university.”
According to the student council’s statement released to the press, their grievances include “arbitrary imposition of university policies on students” and “lack of infrastructural access.”
In a reply to the students council’s 24-hour notice, vice-chancellor Ved Kumari, through an email at 11.04 pm on Jan 23, 2024, said, “The administration is as much interested in the peaceful resolution of all issues and believes that all issues may be resolved peacefully. It is up to the students to decide the best course of action for them and their university.”
“I promised the student council members that I would be available for conversation after Jan 28, and I reiterate that,” the vice-chancellor wrote, citing the visit of the review commission on Jan 27 and 28.
The students council, in their press statement, alleged that essential services like WiFi connectivity, air conditioning, and basic sanitation facilities in washrooms remain non-functional. Access to library resources has also been limited, creating additional barriers to learning.
In her email to the students council, the vice-chancellor said, “The UGC guideline obligates the university to create a mechanism for student consultation. NLUO has created that mechanism by provision of the students council. It is the students who do not want to be part of that mechanism.”
“We are at the fag-end of January 2025, while the current academic session began in July 2024. The student council membership was finally completed just ten days or so back after my repeated reminders to initiate the process of creating a student council. The members to date have not been able to hold internal elections and choose the four representatives, and that too despite umpteen reminders from me,” the VC regretted.
“I once again request the members of the students council to elect their executive members, constitute various committees for student activities, and participate constructively in improving the ranking of the university,” the VC added.
