Law college sticks to its decision to rusticate 26

After a four-and-a-half-hour discussion of the governing council, principal Vaijayanti Joshi said the college will not take back the students. Over 200 students, who had gathered in the campus, resorted to sloganeering, after hostel rector H.P. Deshmukh announced the council’s decision.

Joshi had hinted to the media before the meeting that the move to rusticate the students was a collective decision and can’t be revoked. ‘‘I understand the mental condition of the parents but none of them challenged the decision as they accepted their wards’ mistake,’’ the principal said.

Parents and students’ council representatives met Joshi during the day to plead that the college revokes the decision. The parents had offered to give Joshi a written undertaking, apologising for the ragging incidents.

Meanwhile, the students’ council has issued a statement urging authorities to reconsider its decision. ‘‘We respect the motive behind the decision, but the punishment does not fit the alleged crime,’’ reads the statement. Council president Suruchi Suri said: ‘‘The first-year students also handed over an explanation to the college, giving a clean chit to their seniors.’’