Rajiv Gandhi University in Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday “suspended” all activities of its students union following vandalism in the vice-chancellor’s office on Monday over issues related to the functioning of students’ hostels till the “normalisation” of the situation.
In a notification issued by the central varsity, located on Rono Hills, about 25km from capital Itanagar, the decision was triggered by the assault and vandalism “perpetrated” by the Rajiv Gandhi University Students’ Union (RGUSU) executive members in the VC office on Monday.
The notification also directed RGUSU president and general secretary not to organise any activity till further order while others were asked not to “entertain or associate” with RGUSU activities.
The varsity’s senior security officer has also been directed to ensure the enforcement of the notification, reflecting the anger among the teachers and employees of the university against the “blatant and utter disregard” for the highest office of the university.
Condemning the “obnoxious behaviour” of the RGUSU members involved in the vandalism, a joint consultative meeting involving the varsity teachers association and employees associations held on Tuesday appealed to the authorities to “take exemplary and stringent action against the perpetrators as per relevant provisions of the law and as per varsity’s code of conduct”.
The teaching and non-teaching staff have also decided to wear black badge in protest from Wednesday to Friday, a teacher said.
Police told The Telegraph they have arrested a student based on the FIR lodged by the university on Monday but declined to reveal details. They were also searching for those involved in the vandalism.
A university statement issued on Monday night claimed the vice-chancellor secretariat was vandalised by the newly formed students union which had submitted a representation to the university authority for revival of the earlier prefect system in the hostels.
Sources said under the prefect system the hostel warden chose an “able” student to assist him in running the hostel.
There are 12 student hostels in RGU with around 2,000 boarders. Six of the hostels are for girl students. “Today (Monday) an unruly group of students consisting of the members of the RGUSU forcibly entered the vice chancellor’s chamber by breaking the door and vandalised the office causing extensive damages to the furniture, equipment and many office items. The PSOs and the vice chancellor, Prof Saket Kushwaha were also hurt during the violent incident,” the statement said.
The university said that the vandalism incident has been reported to the law-enforcing authority. “Such display of violence by the students, and that too leaders of the students community, is deplorable and it is desirable that law should take its own course.”
The statement further said that the hostel issue was being discussed and processed according to the established procedure of the university that requires discussion and recommendation by the academic council, which has to be further approved by the varsity’s executive council.
The statement said the prefect system in the hostels of the university was abolished in 2021 “following complaints of unethical behaviour, financial misconduct and misuse of the powers of prefect”.
The university said it has substituted the prefect system with a “robust system” last year by appointing a chief warden, two wardens for each hostel assisted by a committee, which included members of student-boarders from the same hostel so that the genuine demands of the student-boarders are met.
The students through these committees manage the day-to-day activities of the hostel, including running of mess.
None of the student leaders could be contacted but those in favour of the now-abolished prefect system told a section of the media that having a hostel prefect helped them raise their issues, such as food quality.
