CHENNAI: Seven months after a violent clash erupted at the Dr Ambedkar Government Law College in the city, the 53 students who were suspended from the college on charges of being involved in the clashes, have been left in the lurch.
For months together, there was no commission set up to enquire into the students’ involvement nor was there any sort of inquiry made.
The students spent close to 20 days in jail among other convicts as they were not allowed bail. They have lost an entire semester placing the future of the six final year students among them in jeopardy. And to date, they have no idea what the college intends to do with them.
“A few weeks after the clash, both parties of students were brought together under the aegis of advocates Rajnikanth and Vijaykumar. We have reached an understanding and our issues have now been cleared up. Yet, there is no word from the college on our future,” said K Arumugam, a third-year student.
The students were suspended after Prof Mohammed Iqbal took over as college principal. The students say, that over the last several months, they have attempted to reach Prof Iqbal to find out if they were going to be allowed to continue their studies, write their exams or be transferred elsewhere.
“The principal is very approachable and we have had talks with him. However, he is not giving us a clear, solid answer to our problem or what is to be done with us,” said S Marees, a fourth-year student.
Finally, in desparation, they approached the deputy law secretary and State Law Minister Duraimurugan who ordered an inquiry into the students’ role in the clashes that led to three students being hospitalised.
On May 27 and 28, Professors Nallathambi and Suryaprakash held an inquiry which on the first day heard from students directly involved in the clashes and on the second, from students who were involved in damaging college property. The results of the inquriy or the action to be taken by the college thereof is still unknown.
Meanwhile, the students have expressed their willingness to take any punishment meted out to them for having been involved but also want to know what their future holds in terms of their academic progress.
“We have now applied to write our arrears since we missed our exams. But we’re still not sure if we will be allowed to,” said V Ravindran, another student.
However, they also maintain that the punishment of being in jail and suspended for over six months is a little harsh. “Circumstances led us into the violence. This college has always had a reputation for violence and this should be considered with regard to our behaviour,” said final year student G Gubendran.