West Bengal govt against gherao of principals, VCs: Partha

West Bengal Education Minister Partha Chatterjee on Saturday said the state government is "dead against" the practice of gherao in higher educational institutions.

In the last few months, the vice-chancellor of Jadavpur University and the registrar of Presidency University have been gheraoed for days by student unions over admission issues.

"We are dead against the practice of gherao of principals, VCs at the slightest pretext," he told reporters, after a meeting with members of the TMC students' wing -- Trinamool Chhatra Parishad here.

Chatterjee said former students should refrain from being part of student units of their alma mater.

The minister also said that every student should keep in mind that regular attendance of classes is a must.

"We will ask the colleges and universities to show no leniency to those who fail to meet the required percentage. We will recommend the authorities to deduct students' marks in semester examination if they fail to meet the minimum percentage figure of attendance," he said.

The Calcutta University had in February disallowed some students of the Bengali Department from appearing in semester examinations, after they failed to secure the stipulated 55 per cent attendance.