Team Herald
PANJIM: Notwithstanding the assurance given by Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar last month, Goa University (GU) on Monday declared exam of 108 students of Dhempe College of Arts & Science as null and void despite they having attained 75 percent attendance through remedial classes.
The varsity – adamant on its decision insisted that there is no provision for remedial classes as per ordinance of GU – OC 45. GU Vice Chancellor Dr Satish Shetye advised the students to approach the court for any relief in the matter.
Bowing to the pressure of 108 First and Second Year BA and BSc students – whose results were withheld by the college due to low attendance even after conducting remedial classes – Parsekar on May 14 had directed the institution to declare the results that were scheduled to be out this month.
However, with the college failing to do so, the aggrieved students led by Durgadas Kamat gheraoed Dr Shetye demanding that he honour the CM’s assurance. The VC explained that the exam results were declared null and void as per the ordinance while Registrar Y Reddy pointed out that it was the college that was at fault in conducting the remedial classes.
The agitated students refused to leave the University campus demanding declaration of their results and staged a protest outside the VC’s cabin from 10.30am to 4pm. A girl student also attempted suicide. The police were summoned to the university campus to take care of any possible law and order situation.
As there was no relief, the students left the campus at around 4pm giving a 24-hour ultimatum to the government, varsity and the college to declare the results or face intensified protest. “We will stop the functioning at GU. The protest will be extended to every taluka,” one of the students said. The students have demanded that either the VC resign or act on the CM’s assurance.
On June 2, the college had written to GU requesting permission to consider the students’ attendance in extra classes to qualify the students who did not meet the 75 percent attendance requirement for conducting the supplementary exam.
The students had missed the compulsory 75 percent attendance to qualify for appearing in examinations but, managed to touch the requirement on attending remedial classes. However, on May 7 the college declared the exams null and void.
“The college conducted remedial classes for students who did not qualify for the exam. All attended the classes and simultaneously answered their respective exams. But they were thereafter asked to take readmission citing the ordinance,” he said.
