PTTI students protest against HC ruling

A scuffle broke out between the students and the police, with the former being forcibly taken to the police headquarters. They were detained till late evening, after which they were released.

The rally, in which nearly 1,500 students participated, began from College Square at 12 noon and reached Esplanade at 2 pm. The students burnt the effigy of the School Education minister, Partha De, at Esplanade and outside Calcutta University.

On October 1, the Calcutta High Court derecognised some of the institutes on the grounds that they were operating without obtaining the permission of the National Council for Teachers Education.

Later in the day, the Chhattra Parishad, the students8217; wing of Congress, also came out in support of the students of the PTTIs. 8220;We will send a delegation to the Human Resource and Development Minister, Arjun Singh, explaining the situation to him and the fact that the future of thousands of students would be jeopardised due to this decision,8221; said Sourav Chakraborty, state president, Chhattra Parishad.

8220;We think that the Centre should intervene as the state government is not serious about the issue. We will also participate in the demonstration at Rani Rashmoni Crossing on October 16 along with the PTTI students,8221; he added.

The students owing allegiance to the All India Democratic Students Organisation also participated in the rally.

8220;We want the state government to find out if an ordinance can be moved and the degrees of the students who have passed out can be recognised. It is a question of the future of thousands of students and if the government does not think seriously about the matter we will have to launch state-wide protests on the issue,8221; said Ashok Rudra, a PTTI students union leader.