Top law school shut after students strike

staff,strict adherence to UGC norms and a probe into alleged corruption and nepotism.

Students are on strike for the last seven days,without giving any proper notice. We have constituted committees to look into their grievances but they did not turn up,forcing us to close the university, HNLU vice-chancellor B K Shrivastav told The Sunday Express.

However,the memorandum submitted by the students to Governor E S L Narasimhan,Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh and the academic council paints a grim picture of the university. It listed instances of unqualified persons teaching law subjects and other problems plaguing the varsity.

Apart from pointing out deficiencies in course materials and the lack of basic requirements,the memorandum said the HNLU has failed to procure a single significant exchange programme,except for one student exchange programme known as European Union (EU)-India PORPOS project. This programme was also in a disarray as the certificates issued to the students did not bear the signature of any authority on behalf of the European Public Law Centre, the memorandum said.

The memorandum said the placement record has also been poor,claiming that the institution has been able to place just 10 per cent students under campus recruitment.

Demanding transparency in the system,the students also demanded a probe into the alleged instances of nepotism and appointment of a regular registrar.

The memorandum alleged that the Vice-Chancellor had imposed a fine of Rs 20,000 on a student,who negligently misplaced his laptop in the university campus. Another instance a demand was served on all the students,one the eve of end-term examinations,to pay Rs 400 as electricity charges. The university started charging exorbitant prices for course materials,which were earlier offered free,the students alleged.

HNLU Vice-Chancellor B K Shrivastav denied these charges,saying all efforts were being made to improve the universitys infrastructure.