Students of Dhanamanjuri University have complained to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) demanding an enquiry to find out as to who’s responsible for the students of the university suffering mental agony/shock, harassment and loss of valuable academic year.
The students also sought compensation of Rs 100 crore, to be paid Rs 1 lakh each to the students of DM University for harassment.
The students approached the NHRC after a prolonged hunger strike, which began on July 9, 2024, calling for the appointment of regular staff and key officials, including the Vice Chancellor, Registrar, and examination controller.
The university is built up of the three Dhanamanjuri Colleges namely DM College of Science, DM College of Arts, DM College of Commerce along with GP Women’s College and LMS Law College. The University offers about 34 courses including 12 different subjects in the science stream and one professional course.
There are about 10,000 students at the University, including undergraduates and postgraduates.
In the complaint letter, it is stated that the 1st and 3rd semester examinations of MA and MSc, which were to be conducted in December 2023 are yet to be conducted and 3rd and 4th semester examinations of BA and BSc are yet to be conducted too. 3rd semester examinations of MA and Msc are yet to be conducted, classes for the 4th semester classes are yet to start, without taking any class of 4th semester, university authority is starting to conduct both the 3rd and 4th semester examinations of MA and MSc within August 2024.
On July 14, 2024, the Registrar, Dhanamanjuri University issued a press statement wherein it is stated that “the university has conducted online examination in 2023 for certain semesters in view of the then prevailing law and order situation in the state. Online examination is however not the standard norm for assessing students. Based on experience in conducting this online examination, it is felt necessary to ensure that the integrity of any assessment examination should not be compromised and all measures taken to promote the best educational and ethical standard in the University. Further, in view of the current demand of the students for holding semester examinations in online mode, the approval to conduct examination online mode has been sought from UGC and reply is awaited”.
It is to note that Manipur University, which is situated just a few kilometers from DM University, has already started conducting 2nd and 4th semester examinations of MA, MSc and LLM and these examinations are to be completed soon. Right to higher education is an affirmative obligation of the state and therefore, the government has an obligation to facilitate access to education, at all levels, it stated.
It also stated that due to gross negligence on the part of the authorities of DM University, human rights of the students who appeared in the Common University Entrance Test (CUET) are to be derogated and their future academic careers are uncertain.
Moreover, due to gross negligence on the part of university authorities, all the students of DM University would lead to mental agony, shock, harassment and loss of one valuable academic year, stated in the complaint.
