Madras HC orders police security on Pondicherry varsity campus

Chennai : The Madras High Court on Thursday directed the police to provide security on Pondicherry University campus to prevent any untoward incident after a student expressed apprehension of violence by groups formed by teachers and students.

Justice N Kirubakaran also directed the Puducherry police to file a report about the possible presence of any communal, religious, political or extremists group on the campus and their role in such clashes.

He ordered personal appearance of Director General of Police, Puducherry, and Officer on Special Duty-cum- Superintendent of Police, Pondicherry University in the court on November 11. The judge passed the interim order on a plea moved by C Vinod Kumar, a student of the university.

The student contended that the atmosphere in the campus was not conducive for education as there was always disturbance due to teachers and students forming groups and fighting each other. He referred to the large-scale violence that occurred in the campus in August 2015, during which properties of the university were damaged and students were restrained from attending classes by anti-social elements.

"Though many complaints were lodged and FIRs registered, due to political pressure till now no one has been arrested or any action taken on the complaints," he alleged in the petition.

Similarly, on September 29, the Vice Chancellor of the university was illegally detained in her chamber for several hours. Later, a group of teachers and students were arrested and FIRs were registered against both the Vice Chancellor and the group, he submitted.

In continuation of the incident, the petitioner apprehended that a group of students and teachers would indulge in violence destabilising the peaceful atmosphere in the campus and had sought the court's intervention.