DU assures protesting students of fair play

Delhi University (DU) on Tuesday assured students who have been protesting against marks evaluation that their complaints would be looked into expeditiously and addressed keeping their interests in mind.

Over 200 DU final year students from off-campus colleges -- like Shivaji, Rajdhani, Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Aurobindo (Evening), Shyam Lal and Lakshmibai -- have been protesting against evaluation of marks, which led to their failure.

"I met them and told them that the university is seized of the matter and is getting their collective complaints examined thoroughly. Students' interest in paramount and fair play will be ensured," Malay Neerav, the university's joint dean for students' welfare, told IANS.

Fifty-seven out of 60 English (Honours) students of Shivaji College failed in the sociology examination. The three who passed have done so marginally. A total of 102 out of 120 Political Science (Honours) students at Laxmi Bai College also failed in sociology.

Besides, at Aurobindo (Evening) College, 150 out of 200 students failed in International Trade along with 18 out of 35 Economics (Honours) students from Shyam Lal College failing in Development Theory and Experience.

The students shouted slogans like "We want justice" and also carried placards reading: "We want justice; fair and early results within two days."

"Most of us are first division holders, and have been failed in sociology in our final semester. We have secured admission for further studies but that too lies in the dark as we do not have our documents to show," Vanya Chhillar, an English (Honours) student from Shivaji College, told IANS.

Many students complained that they were being forced to go in for re-evaluation of their answer sheet which would cost them Rs.1,000.

However, Neerav said the university "would not charge any fee for re-evaluation", adding that the fees would be returned to all those who have already paid it.

He told IANS that those students whose future studies may be jeopardised have been advised to write a letter following which a certificate would be issued mentioning that their paper was sent for re-evaluation.

"The university officials came and spoke with us and told us that our issue would be looked into and results would be declared within a week," Himank Nanda, an Economics (Honours) student at Shyam Lal College, told IANS.