IITKanpur tense after suspensions over ragging

KANPUR: Tension prevailed on the IIT-K campus after the suspension of 22 students on charges of ragging. The Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur had on Monday suspended 16 students for three years and six others for a year after they were found guilty of ragging their juniors.

A meeting of the students’ senate was summoned on Tuesday night in which most of the members opposed the suspensions without giving the students a chance to make mercy appeal during the suspension period.

Criticising the decision, the students demanded that the authorities at the Indian Institute of Technology-Kanpur (IIT-K) should revoke the suspensions or alter the punishment.

While some students suggested they should launch an agitation against the IIT-K administration while others said they should meet the authorities to discuss the issue.

The institute’s administration has changed the security plan of the campus in view of the possibility of an agitation.

Deputy director, IIT-K, Dr Manindra Agarwal said legal opinion was sought regarding lodging of a police complaint against the guilty students but later the authorities decided not to approach the police.

CP Pandey, a Supreme Court advocate, said as per the provisions of the Sections 10 and 23 of the Anti-Ragging Act of the All-India Council for Technical Education, an FIR should be lodged if the charges of ragging were proved.

“Since the Supreme Court has declared ragging a criminal offence, legal action is necessary in such matters,” he added.