Dress code controversy in St. Agnes College
It’s not fair to oppose norms now: Principal
Mangaluru, June 29: St. Agnes College principal Dr M Jeswina said that the students and parents who accepted the norms of the college including the dress code during admission, were opposing them in collusion with the PFI organization which is unfair.
Speaking to reporters here on Friday, she said that there was a dress code in the college for many years and it was not decided this year. Every year, the college management would publish the handbook detailing all the norms including dress code to inform the students and the parents. During the admission time, every parent and student would take admission accepting those norms. But now, some girl students were protesting in collusion with the PFI organization, she said.
As per the norms, all students should follow the college dress code and there was no provision to wear other dress. No girl students should wear scarf and cover their face. The students should not wear any other dress other than uniforms. It was clearly mentioned in the handbook and it the duty of the students to follow it, she said.
The institution would respect every student who opted this institution for the education. The institution would like to have a cordial relationship with the staff, students, parents, alumni and the society. At no point of time, the college staff misbehaved with the girl students and no girl student is suspended from the college after this incident. The students who staged protest in front of the college gate on June 25 and Third B Com student Fathima Anis who spoke before the media, were attending the classes in uniforms. The college has asked the students, who protested, to give written clarification before their parents within three days. Being the principal, neither she nor other teachers had taken signatures on the blank paper from the students, she clarified.
As per the norms, the students should not wear scarf inside the classroom. But they were free to wear scarf or burka on the college campus. But in some social media, it was being wrongly interpreted. There was no truth in it. As informed by someone, the college does not have 80 per cent Muslim girls. Instead, there were 28 per cent Muslim students in the college and around 100 students were given Rs 2 lakh concession, she said.
Any student could get admission into the college by accepting the college norms. Those who are ready to accept the norms laid down by the college could join any other college and they do not have any objection. In the last protest, some girls from the outside also participated along with the college students. So, she would discuss with the college management on giving complaint against the PFI which tried to tarnish the image of the college, she said.
College secretary Dr Maria Roopa, vice principal Dr Vanessa, registrar Charles Stany Pais, discipline committee convener Dr Devi Prabha Alva, and others were present.
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Eight women labourers killed as truck hits tempo on Nagpur-Mumbai expressway
Jalna/Mumbai (PTI): Eight women labourers were killed, and three others were injured after a speeding truck rammed into a tempo on the Nagpur-Mumbai Expressway in Jalna district of Maharashtra on Wednesday evening, police said.
The incident occurred when a group of women was returning home after completing cleaning work on the expressway.
"A total of 11 persons, including the driver, were sitting in the tempo. As the vehicle was about to start, a speeding truck headed towards Mumbai rammed into it from behind at Kadvanchi village," a police official said, adding that seven women died on the spot and another succumbed in the Jalna government hospital.
The tempo was badly mangled, and the bodies were reportedly strewn across the road.
The deceased have been identified as Alkabai Admane (45), Laxmibai Madan (35), Meena Admane (45), Kanchan Admane (50), Tarabai Choudhari (60), Kadubai Madan (55), and Suman Admane (70), all residents of Jalna tehsil.
The identity of the eighth deceased is yet to be confirmed.
Three people are undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Police have arrested the truck driver and registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Further investigation is underway.
Expressing grief, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said the death of eight people is extremely unfortunate, and announced a financial assistance of Rs 5 lakh each to the next of kin of the deceased.
Fadnavis paid heartfelt tributes to the deceased and expressed solidarity with their families.
He said in a statement the injured have been immediately admitted to hospitals and the local administration is coordinating relief efforts.
The district collector and the superintendent of police are present at the spot, overseeing the situation, the chief minister added.
Environment Minister and Jalna District Guardian Minister Pankaja Munde has expressed deep sorrow over the incident.
In a condolence message, Munde extended her sympathies to the families of the deceased.
