KANUR: Students of Vimal Jyothi Engineering College, Chemperi, near Sreekandapuram here on Friday came out in the open against the management, which levied huge fine over petty issues. In violation of rules, the college earned over Rs 9 lakh a year by charging penalties on students. Condemning the harassment, the Muslim Students Federation raised strong protest in front of the college on Friday, which ended up in confrontation with the police and ‘people’, allegedly called by the management to suppress the protest.
Students outfits, including ABVP and SFI, have also called for a protest. The students on condition of anonymity revealed to Express about the prisonlike atmosphere of the institution. The college has imposed ‘disciplinary’ restrictions in the campus such as sporting beards. In one instance, the management suspended four students who failed to remit Rs 2,000 for not attending prayer meetings.
Similarly, a fine to the tune of Rs 100 is collected for late arrival for one period. Likewise, a student who keeps away from class for one day (6 periods) has to shell out Rs 600 or more. A student not turning up after the holiday has to pay Rs 1,000. Mishal, a former mechanical engineering student, was not allowed to write internal lab test for not giving in to the demand of removing the beard.
Mishal’s parents were summoned several times for this. “I was harassed and the management refused to listen and said it cannot mend rules for a few students,” he said. Express has in its possession various documents that support the claims of the students. When Express tried to contact the college principal he was unavailable for comment. The college authorities too refused to speak on the issue.