Student grievance cell likely soon

The Hindu

Mangalore, 21 August 2010: T.C. Shivashankara Murthy, Vice-Chancellor of Mangalore University, on Thursday promised to set up a student grievance redressal cell in three months. He was replying to questions from the media on the fears among students that they could not freely express their grievances against their teachers.

 

Participating in a meet-the-press programme organised by the Dakshina Kannada Working Journalists’ Union here, Mr. Murthy said he would ensure that the cell had powers to deal with the grievances effectively. He said that he was getting several anonymous complaints from students. The cell would be set up in consultation with the university Syndicate and after obtaining legal opinion, he said.

 

 

There was a spurt in the number of complaints after he initiated action against alleged sexual harassment by a teacher. The university had since suspended the faculty member. He later clarified to The Hindu that he had not accepted the resignation tendered by the two women students who were doing a research under the suspended teacher. “They are free to continue the research,” he said.

 

Results

 

Computerisation of the tabulation of marks had led to early announcement of the examination results. Re-evaluated results were being announced three months earlier than before. This had provided unsuccessful students with adequate time to study and appear for the next examination.

 

Leasing issue

 

Registrar (Evaluation) K. Chinnappa Gowda said that the university was not in favour of leasing out its land to the Karnataka State Cricket Association for setting up a cricket stadium. There was a strict instruction (from the Government) not to lease out “even an inch” of land to others, he said.