Hemvati Nandan Bahuguna Garhwal University, the only central university in Uttarakhand, is going through turbulent protests the past few days. The students’ union of the university along with other students, irrespective of their political affiliation, have come together under the banner of a Combined Student Association.
The administration has removed employees working in the university as security guards and cleanliness workers without any prior notice. The students’ union demands the re-employment of these employees and the fulfillment of student needs. Students have shut down all three campuses of the university from April 29 in the light of the protests.
The major demands of the students are:
1) Proper implementation of the CBCS system at the undergraduate level and timely declaration of results.
2) Wi-Fi facility to the students of all the campuses.
3) Timely fellowships to the research scholars in the university.
4) To open the reading hall of the university on all days except on national holidays.
The students’ union tried to meet the university administrators on the aforementioned demands. AK Jha, Registrar of the university, initially responded positively on the student’s demands but later said in a press conference that he only responded positively to students under pressure. He alleged that the students held him captive and forcefully made him sign a document that confirms outsourced employees will be re-employed. He also registered an FIR against the members of the students’ union for holding him captive.
Ankit Uchholi, president of the students’ union says that the FIR launched by the Registrar is totally false and a plot to curb the protest.
Instead of the taking the students protests seriously, the Vice-Chancellor, Annpurna Nautiyal and Registrar, AK Jha went on leave. We students placed their effigies on the main gate, stating that they are ‘missing.’ Due to the ongoing protests, the law and order situation in the university has become lax and there have been clashes between students and the university administration.
The ongoing semester and sessional examinations were affected due to the protests. The Uttarakhand High Court on May 10, restrained students and union leaders from going on ‘illegal strikes’ and forcibly locking down the university premises. In keeping with the High Court order, students have now decided to not obstruct the working of the university offices and peacefully protest until their demands are fulfilled.
Note: We contacted HNB Garhwal University for a comment on the above realities and have received no response. This post will be updated once we receive a response.
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