Jadavpur University issued a work order on Friday for Webel Technology Limited to install CCTV cameras at the gates of the main hostel and the girls’ hostel as well as the campuses in Jadavpur and Salt Lake.
Registrar Snehamanju Basu signed the work order and the installation of the cameras will start next week, officials said.
“Twelve cameras will be put up at the five gates of the campus in Jadavpur,” said an official.
Four cameras each will be installed at the gates of the main hostel (a boys’ hostel located next to Jadavpur police station) and the girls’ hostel (located on the Jadavpur campus).
Eleven cameras will be installed at the main gate, cab gate and boys’ hostel gate of the Salt Lake campus.
“Work will begin next week. We have been told that the facilities will be readied within two weeks,” the official said.
“CCTV cameras are a must to protect facilities, equipment, staff and students. The death of the 17-year-old boy has necessitated the installation of the cameras, which students of the university had earlier resisted.”
The university issued the work order three days after education minister Bratya Basu said it was not clear to him why JU was unwilling to install CCTV cameras, disregarding a directive of the Supreme Court.
The minister made the comment in his chamber on the Assembly premises after responding to a question about the death of the first-year student, who had allegedly been ragged and thrown from a second-floor balcony of the main hostel.
Registrar Basu on Friday wrote to the higher education department saying Webel had quoted around Rs 37.05 lakh for the installation of the cameras.
“The university has written to the department to release funds for the project at the earliest,” said a JU official.
“We want to set up the facilities at the earliest,” JU officiating VC Buddhadeb Sau told The Telegraph.