“Power Corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely”. This quote by “Sir Arnold” seems to be best fit for the authorities of the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab. National Law Universities, the islands of legal excellence in India , which foments injustice with a responsibility to turn the young legal minds into legal luminaries. In one of such NLUs, Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law, Punjab (RGNUL) a very sad incident took place on 13th march 2019.
As per RGNLU-ites on the evening of 13th March, a collective of Boys students across batches, numbering into hundreds held a protest in the mess over the bad quality of food which had been persisting for long. On the 15th, 6 students were identified, harassed and suspended from the campus on account of indiscipline and hooliganism – all that with a mere 3 days to go before the mid-semester exams. Without conducting any hearing, violating the natural justice (“audi alteram partem”) order of suspension was passed wrongfully – by the Administrative Officer even when a penalty of suspension can only be passed by the Vice Chancellor. Moreover, phones have been confiscated, through coercion have been unlocked, private messages breached and upon insisting that fundamental rights of privacy are being violated, the Faculty responded with abuses and stating that the students are in no position to teach them the Law. All of this in an institution committed to uphold natural justice.
It was further claimed that this behavior of the University Administration has precedence. This is not the first time RGNUL Administration has behaved in a dictatorial manner, but is one in a series of occurrences.
The appeal made by the students to the authorities were that the six students who are wrongfully suspended be, during the pendency of their inquiry, be reinstated hostel and campus privileges. To that extent, since 8:15 PM the 15th of March, hundreds of students have been holding a peaceful silent protest in front of the Guest House in solidarity with the suspended students.
This protest is still continue and the students are even sleeping on the campus roads for protest leaving a huge question mark over the authorities and the educational legal system of India that if such incidents are taking place in university which is producing young legal minds, how can justice can be expected in the incidents of other universities? Also, the victims of such injustice are not only the immediately affected students, but the legal fraternity and the nation at large.
#RGNUL Student protest, College Admin along with HC Judge who is member of college academic council negotiating with students. More Updates awaited. pic.twitter.com/L62KwusyN0
— Legal Desire (@legaldesire) March 16, 2019
P.S: This story will be updated as per latest reports and actions.
