Now, Himachal Pradesh National Law University hit with COVID-19 outbreak; campus continues to remain open

COVID-19 continues to affect law schools across the country, with students of Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) being the latest victims of stray outbreaks on campus..Students claim that despite the outbreak, examinations and classes are still being conducted. When they approached the authorities to highlight the gravity of the situation, they were given the option to attempt repeat examinations at a later time or discontinue the course..The administration held a meeting this morning with the Registrar and different committees representing students across batches to contemplate the postponement of exams. However, after consulting with the Chancellor of HPNLU and Chief Justice of the Himachal Pradesh High Court Justice L Narayana Swamy, it was decided that the exams will take place as scheduled, and that the campus will not be shut..Speaking to Bar & Bench, Vice-Chancellor Prof Nishtha Jaswal insisted that there was no risk in conducting the exams, and that COVID-19 testing will take place on campus. She said,"For students tested positive, we will be conducting special examination later whenever it is possible.There is no risk, those who are tested positive are in isolation, the other students did not get the tests done. Tomorrow morning again the testing van will be on campus for those who want to get tested.".However, a fourth-year law student revealed that the HPNLU campus did not have adequate medical facilities available for students. Further, it was claimed that students testing positive were not provided with any special accommodation to isolate themselves. Among the other complaints were that students were not given their RT-PCR reports after getting tested..Some students claimed that they were told by the University staff that the Registrar and the personal assistant to the Vice-Chancellor had tested positive.Denying these statements, Prof Jaswal said,"These are all rumours. My personal assistant and the Registrar are perfectly fine and are sitting in front of me. The problem is, few days back, without any permission or authority, the students had conducted a session in a room. Even otherwise, students aren't following COVID protocols despite there being sign boards kept across the campus and mails sent to them to follow the protocols.".The students have been sitting in protest at the common parking lot since Tuesday afternoon, in an attempt to push for the postponement of exams. .They had also requested for staff from the Indira Gandhi Medical College and Hospital (IGMC) in Shimla to conduct RT-PCR tests for all students on campus. However, it was claimed that staff from the local government dispensary at Dhami were sent on campus instead, with only 50 RT-PCR testing kits, whereas the strength of the students on campus is close to 600. .On this aspect, Prof Jaswal said,"There is resistance from students in getting tested. Even the 50 kits which have been brought to campus have not be utilized. The Sub-District Magistrate has also come to campus for a meeting and has also personally insisted students to followed COVID protocols while sitting in protest."She added that staff from the government dispensary were sent to conduct testing at the HPNLU campus in line with protocol."I spoke to Medical Superintendent IGMC who informed that the University being within the purview of the Chief Medical Officer, Shimla, it is the protocol that the Government dispensary, Dhami will collect the samples. the testing will be done at IGMC. But students are not going for the tests.".Recently, National Law Universities like RGNUL, RMLNLU and GNLU witnessed outbreaks of COVID-19 on campus, forcing them to shut down and postpone exams or conduct them in online mode.

Now, Himachal Pradesh National Law University hit with COVID-19 outbreak; campus continues to remain open

Jelsyna Chacko

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