BHU VC announces student council, ex-UP minister moves UPHRC

Varanasi, Sep 25 (UNI) Former Uttar Pradesh minister Shatrudra Prakash today petitioned the Uttar Pradesh Human Rights Commission over the recent alleged lathicharge on students by Banaras Hindu University (BHU) security personnel.

Meanwhile, BHU vice-chancellor Panjab Singh announced constitution of a student council in the central varsity within a month.

Talking to UNI on phone from Lucknow, Mr Prakash, also an alumnus of BHU said he had petitioned the UPHRC today on behalf of students and guardians, over the recent lathicharge by varsity proctorial board personnel on students agitating for restoration of students union in the central varsity.

Mr Prakash, also the secretary of Citizens Forum, said he has sought UPHRC intervention in the entire episode of students protesting peacefully being brutally lathicharged by varsity security personnel on September 19.

He alleged the varsity administration not only violated the provisions of Indian Constitution, but also the human rights by ordering lathicharge on students.

The proctorial board personnel were not empowered to act like magistrates, using force on agitating students. If the situation was beyond their control they should have sought help from the district administration for maintaining law and order on the campus.

The BHU Vice-Chancellor, Panjab Singh, meanwhile told newspersons here a Student Council will be constituted in the varsity within a month. The council will be constituted at faculty and hostel levels, he added.

Prof Singh described the September 19 violence on BHU campus as the handiwork of outsiders for disturbing the academic atmosphere in the university.

Mr Prakash, however, reacting to BHU VC's latest announcement said that no student council could revive democracy on the varsity campus, which urgently needed a students union to render voice to students.

Students Union Election in BHU were last held in 1996.

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