Date:30/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/30/stories/2008083059960300.htm

New Delhi

B.Sc. students to continue protest

Staff Reporter

NEW DELHI: A group of students of B.Sc. (Programme) who for the past few days have been protesting against their “unexpected and poor results” in the final examination this year met Delhi University authorities on Friday in a bid to resolve the issue.

However, nothing concrete emerged out of it and the students have decided to continue with their indefinite relay hunger strike that began on Thursday.

The students have been demanding that just like last year when a number of them were promoted to the next year despite two essential repeats following a decision by a review committee, the same rule should be applicable this year too.

The review committee headed by Savita M. Dutta was set up last year to look into the abysmal performance of the students enrolled in B.Sc. (Programme).

“We were not satisfied with what the panel told us. They said the decision of promoting the failed students will not be applicable this year. They could not say why the students were not informed that this rule was not permanent. They said if we continue with our protest, disciplinary action would be taken against us,” said a student. Meanwhile, Dr. Dutta said the rule was used last year as a number of students had performed badly back then. “The results have been quite good this time. All the difficulties that students pointed out last year were sorted out. The fact is that a handful of students want to pressurise DU.”