Mangaluru: Students protest against daily fine for late fee payment at Sri Devi College
Mangaluru: A sudden protest broke out at Sri Devi College in Ballalbagh on Friday after degree students accused the college administration of imposing a fine of Rs 100 per day for delays in paying academic fees.
Students boycotted classes in the morning and gathered on campus to express anger against the management. They claimed that no such penalty clause was mentioned when they were admitted. “Now, the college is forcing us to pay a daily fine of Rs 100 for delayed fee payment and is even charging fines for attendance shortage,” students alleged.
They further said that students arriving after 10 am are not allowed to use the lift. “With classes being held on the sixth floor, we are forced to climb the stairs,” they complained.
The Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI) extended support to the students’ protest, terming the college’s action as unfair and against educational ethics. The organisations demanded that Mangalore University and the district administration take strict action against the college.
“The management is not only collecting excessive fines but also pressuring students to pay them. In a six-storey building, there’s only one toilet for every three classrooms per floor, used by over a hundred students. By the time they return from using it, the class period ends. The lack of sanitation facilities is also affecting attendance,” alleged SFI district secretary Vinuṣh Ramana and DYFI district secretary Santosh Bajal.
The two organisations warned that if students who protested are harassed or targeted, they will launch a larger agitation against the college management.
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RSS man's defamation case against Rahul: Key witness unavailable, hearing adjourned to Dec 20
Thane (PTI): A court in Bhiwandi in Thane district on Saturday adjourned the hearing in the criminal defamation case filed against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi by a Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) worker to December 20 due to non-availability of a crucial prosecution witness.
Advocate Narayan Iyer, counsel for Rahul Gandhi, confirmed the adjournment, stating that the witness, Ashok Saykar, currently Deputy Superintendent of Police in Barshi in Solapur, could not remain present due to personal reasons.
Saykar's evidence is now likely to be recorded on December 29.
His testimony is considered key because he, as police sub inspector in 2014, conducted the preliminary inquiry into the private defamation matter under Section 202 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC).
It was on the basis of Saykar's submitted report that the court subsequently issued process (summons) against Rahul Gandhi under Section 500 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The criminal defamation case was filed by local RSS worker Rajesh Kunte following a speech given by Rahul Gandhi at an election rally near Bhiwandi on March 6, 2014.
The case stems from the Congress leader's alleged statement that "the RSS people killed (Mahatma) Gandhi."
The matter is being heard by Bhiwandi Joint Civil Judge, Junior Division, P M Kolse.
The hearing had previously been adjourned on November 15 after the complainant's counsel, Advocate Prabodh Jaywant, moved an application seeking permission to examine Saykar, who had submitted the probe report to the court.
The matter was originally scheduled for November 29 but was deferred to December 6 after Rahul Gandhi's legal team sought an adjournment citing their non-availability. The proceedings will now resume on December 20.
