Deogarh: After the student’s union election was called off at Ravenshaw University, Madhusudan Law College in Cuttack and Nilagiri College in Balasore district and Sambalpur University Monday, the authorities of Deogarh Government College, the oldest college of Western Odisha, called off the elections Tuesday.
The decision to cancel the elections was taken by the college staff council after two attendance registers were found missing from the Botany Department.
The college staff council secretary and English lecturer of the college, Sarat Chandra confirmed the decision of the council through a press note.
After coming to know of the missing of the register sheets, an emergency meeting, presided by the college principal Santoshini Satapathy was called wherein the decision was taken to cancel the elections this year.
This spread tension in the college among the students who demanded a thorough probe into the incident. Some angry students were seen staging a demonstration in front of the college principal’s office, demanding immediate withdrawal of the decision. The college was also close sine die following the decision, fearing further tension by the students.
Meanwhile, reports said that the college authorities would reconsider the decision if the students give in writing that they will not resort to any sort of violence.
Earlier, the authorities of Sambalpur University, Ravenshaw University, Madhusudan Law College and two colleges in Nilagiri block of Balasore district had cancelled students’ union elections after campus violence Monday while the election was cancelled in Utkal University was cancelled first.
The decision was taken at the PG council meeting. However, the authorities said they will consider elections, if students assure in writing that they will not engage in violence.
As per a notification issued by the Higher Education Department September 28, student union polls in various universities will be held between 8 am and 2 pm October 11. The results will be declared on the same day.
PNN
