Jadavpur University probably going through 'bad patch', things will improve soon: Calcutta High Court

Jadavpur University may be going through a 'bad patch' but things will hopefully improve soon, the Calcutta High Court said on Monday while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) petition highlighting the issues related to the functioning of the university [Sudip Raha vs Jadavpur University]..A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya said it will hear the students of the university and make them understand that they need to be 'proud' to be an alumnus of the varsity."We will hear students and make them understand how important it is to retain the status of alumnus of this varsity. You need to be proud to be alumni of this university. After 15 years, when they call you for an alumni meet, you should be proud to come with pleasant memories and not with horrific memories," the Chief Justice remarked.The bench added that this thought needs to be inculcated in the students, whom the petitioners allege have become violent."They (students) are young minds and will understand. It is not as if one becomes a senior and torture the junior. We are confident it can happen. Every institution has a bad patch, the varsity is probably in one such, things will change and improve," the Chief Justice underscored..The bench was hearing a PIL highlighting the 'state of affairs' at Jadavpur University that led to a first year BA student committing suicide after he was allegedly subjected to ragging by his seniors.Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandyopadhyay, appearing for the petitioner, emphasised that senior students, who have graduated continue to live in the varsity's hostel and subject fresher students to ragging."Ragging is continuing for decades altogether. A fresher today is being subjected to ragging. Criminality is being grown in his mind. Tomorrow when he becomes a senior, he does the same thing. I was in a hostel in class 9 and ragging in our times, was like introduce yourself, go swim, etc. I learnt swimming because of my seniors. But now more inhuman things are resorted to. Recently, one student has died," the Senior Advocate pointed out.During the hearing, the counsel representing the university, informed the bench that several political parties have been staging protests and are also trying to enter the varsity campus.The bench said that political parties cannot use this incident for their sake."No, you cannot convert this into a political battle. No political party would be allowed inside the campus. Any form of peaceful protest cannot be stopped but one causing inconvenience to the public will have to be regulated. Need not be said, but yes police have enough powers to regulate such protests," the bench underscored..During the hearing, the bench opined that if there is some dispute within the four walls of the university, the same can be resolved with the intervention of the professors, students' union, administration, etc."But if boys outside the campus enter the varsity, innocent people are affected and university is becoming famous for wrong reasons, then cannot the varsity decide to close down the hostel?" the bench sought to know.The advocate for the university responded that closing down the hostel would be a bit difficult. To this, the Chief Justice, replied, "Maybe. Where there is a way there is a will, Mr. counsel."If it is an in-house problem, then it is okay but once it becomes a criminal matter and affects the general public and room is made in the varsity to use it as a political platform, then something serious needs to be done, the Chief Justice opined..Meanwhile, Advocate General (AG) SN Mookerjee, representing the State, submitted that ragging has been going on in most premier institutes in the country and is not limited to West Bengal."If the students themselves aren't maintaining peace and harmony, then harsh actions need to be taken. Experiences acquired in such situations can make or break a person. It is a serious issue. We will ensure that whatever your lordships will order we will implement the same in all the institutions across the State," the AG assured.He also informed the bench that the police machinery is investigating the death of the first-year student. He added that a separate case has been filed filed against some students who obstructed the entry of police in the varsity premises..The bench adjourned the matter for further hearing till September 5 with a directive to the petitioner to implead students' unions of the university, so that the court can hear the version of students.