Students protest against college’s dress code outside Anna University
Chennai: Students of a city engineering college protested outside Anna University on Tuesday demanding removal of their campus director who has been strictly enforcing a dress code and banned mobile phones and use of two-wheelers by students.
Students alleged they are being fined even for using the restroom during class hours and for talking to a student of a different course. The police detained the demonstrators and released them later.
Nearly 36 students of Sri Sairam College protested against the superintendent and campus in-charge P. Balu who fined students for using mobile phones in the college campus as well as wearing tights.
They wanted Anna university registrar S. Ganesan to take action against Balu and remove him from the post. The university registrar said a committee had been formed to look into the issue. Earlier this month, he along with 45 floor supervisors had distributed a circular banning leggings, cotton trousers and patiala for girls. Bringing mobile phones and two-wheelers was banned. The circular, which the college claims is an old one, created a storm on social media.
According to the protesting students, Rs 10, 000 was charged as fine for bringing a phone to college. “Girls need to communicate with their parents as the college is on the outskirts, how can they not allow it!” wondered a student.
Another student requesting anonymity said he was asked to pay Rs 25,000 for speaking to a girl. Often floor supervisors harassed girls, the protesters alleged. C.V. Jayakumar, college principal, said, “Boys and girls are allowed to talk on campus, but what we discourage is unwanted loitering, unwanted roaming and unwanted talking. We organise so many events, for which the organisers consist of boys and girls. So they do interact. There are no problems.”
He said in today’s protest only some students were from his college whereas the rest were not. He believes someone is instigating the students. When asked about the circular he said, “The circular is not applicable anymore, it existed long back. And there is no signature of the principal on it.”
