Presidency University’s dean of students has announced that there will be "no code of conduct” until the next general body meeting.
Students were protesting the authorities' alleged attempt to enforce a code of conduct.
The dean of students, Arun Kumar Maity, in a signed statement issued on Tuesday evening, wrote: “Existing disciplinary committee is dissolved. Until the next general body meeting, no code of conduct (will be implemented).”
General body meetings are held between the university authorities and student groups as and when needed.
Calls and text messages to dean Maity failed to elicit any response.
The dean handed the written statement to representatives of the SFI and the IC (Independents Consolidation) a day after a large number of students opposed enforcing the code in a feedback form concerning the draft.
The draft of the code says students have to take permission from the authorities before organising any rally or a meeting
The dean circulated the draft among the two student unions last week seeking their opinion on the proposed code of conduct.
Of the 446 students, who responded to a point of the draft that categorises organising meetings and processions without approval as “misconduct”, 442 students rejected the idea.
An equal number of students said “no” to the point of the draft that says students were prohibited from “furnishing audio and video clippings of any activity within the campus to media without obtaining prior approval from concerned authorities”.
Rishav Saha, a postgraduate student who is the secretary of the SFI unit on the campus, said: “The authorities have retreated, considering the overwhelming opposition regarding the various provisions of the code.”
They sought feedback from students through a Google form where they uploaded the draft and asked the students to respond on several points of the code separately, said Saha.
Barishan Ray, an undergraduate student who is a supporter of IC, said: “It is a partial victory for us because the enforcement of the code has been put on hold until the general body meeting.”
A student, who has said “NO” to various provisions of the draft code, said the authorities are attempting to suppress the voice of dissent.
“Before the Covid outbreak in March 2020, Presidency used to provide a bus service for girl students between the hostel in Salt Lake and the campus. Now the facility has been discontinued. It costs them at least Rs 60 each day to come to the campus and then return to the hostel as classes. Do the Presidency authorities expect a boarder to take permission from them before staging a protest against this discontinuance of the service?” she told The Telegraph.
“There are instances of students securing their legitimate rights through protest meetings and rallies. This legacy will go on."
