Students who refused to wear gowns now face FIR for ruckus

Pant and other students had raised slogans during the convocation in the presence of Governor B L Joshi. They had also allegedly disturbed the furniture at the venue and were ousted from the venue by the police officials.

SSV Vice-Chancellor Prof Binda Prasad Mishra Tuesday told The Indian Express: “A six-member committee,headed by the Dean (Students Welfare),and comprising Chief Proctor and other Deans and Wardens,has been constituted to identify the students involved in the ruckus on November 28. I will have to take action against those who create disturbance on the campus.”

Mishra further said they were also in the process of identifying some teachers,who incited the students. “Some teachers have been identified. However,we are collecting hard evidence against them,” said Mishra.

DSW Prof Ramesh Kumar Dwivedi said: “The committee met Monday and the Chief Proctor forwarded a formal complaint to the police for lodging of FIR against four students —- Pant,Saket Shukla,Umesh Shukla and Pradeep Pandey. While Saket is still a student at the SSV,the others have passed out. We are in the process of identifying others on the basis of video footage of the event.”

The complaint,which has been forwarded to Chetganj police station,pertains to obstructing public servants in discharge of duty,damage of property and creating nuisance,said Dwivedi.

All the four have also been issued show cause notices,to be answered within three days,on why disciplinary proceedings should not be initiated against them. “Since Saket is a student,we can suspend him and,if need be,cancel his admission. For others,we are seeking legal opinion on whether their degrees can be cancelled. The Committee will meet again on December 6,” said Dwivedi.

Contacted,Pant said: “I have come to know about it from the media,but I have not received any formal communication. I have not done anything wrong. I have the right to voice my opposition. I did not indulge in violence. The V-C is prejudiced against me. He has been victimising me since last year,when I fought the students’ union election.”

Pant added that he had written to the Governor last Sunday and sought time to meet him,along with the others named,on the issue. “I will also raise the issue with the University Grants Commission and the National Human Rights Commission,” he said.