Strike renders Visva-Bharati non-functional, varsity appeals for normalcy

Amid a strike by a section of students, teachers and staff to protest the repeal of reservation system for internal students, West Bengal's Visva-Bharati University Tuesday said it is a matter of "concern" that the varsity was not allowed to function for the last 10 days or more.

The strike led by the varsity's Joint Action Committee began Jan 25 and was directed at Vice Chancellor Sushanta Dutta Gupta for doing away with the old system of reservation for internal students at the undergraduate and postgraduate level.

The agitators Tuesday started a non-stop strike. Parents of a several agitating students also participated.

In an appeal issued Tuesday, the registrar of Visva-Bharati said teaching of students is the fundamental responsibility of the university.

"Co-operation may be extended to all faculty members to perform their duty in the larger interest of the students," the registrar said in the appeal.

Copies of the appeal were mailed to the secretary of the University Grants Commission and the joint secretary, central universities and languages in the union human resource development ministry.

"Everyone will appreciate that the loss of learning to students can hardly be compensated in semester system.

"It may be noted that the university was not allowed to function for the last 10 days or more. Therefore, it is a matter of concern to all of us," the appeal read.

The statement requested all provosts/directors/principals/heads of departments/centres/section/staff/ to appraise/appeal people concerned "not to disrupt the functioning" of the university in general and learning/classes in particular.

Varsity's Karmi Sabha (employees' union), Adhikarik Sabha (officers' union) and Adhyapak Sabha (teachers' council) are also supporting the movement.