A day after two students of the BA LLB Students of Symbiosis Law School was verbally threatened with rustication if they did not pull down their posts on social media and render an unconditional apology, on Friday in a written official communication the women students were asked to vacate the hostel. Further action on the duo is pending with vice chancellor of the deemed to be a university.
Meanwhile, the students who deposed before the ICC and those who raised complaints against the assistant professor Srinivas Methuku alleged that the college was trying to brush the issue under the carpet by witch-hunting students who raked up the matter, by taking disciplinary action against them.
"We have no faith in the ICC. We were told on our face we were lying and that levelling allegations against the prof because of personal grudge," said a student on the condition of anonymity. What is also appalling is that though allegation against the Prof Methuku has been coming in for past several years, a year and a half ago he was promoted and made an examination in charge. Prior to that, he was also made the member of the grievance cell.
Recently, under pressure from students, the ICC was formed. "What justice can we believe to get from such a committee or the management threatens students with suspension, a day before they are appearing for their examination. We were was told to delete or unlike the Facebook post posted by these two girls if we didn't want to be suspended. I had an elective exam and I have been so stressed that I do not know what I have written in my paper today," said a student who was one of the complainants against Prof Methuku. WIth the #MeToo movement making inroads in SLS, though wary of going against the management, students have offered support to the duo, albeit anonymously.
"The allegation against the professor is absolutely correct and has been going on since my seniors' time but no action was ever taken The issue now gathered heat because of the larger movement. But the way the management has dealt with the issue is not good and will have an impact on their career if they are expelled," said another student. Meanwhile, the management has said that the suspension of the students and allegation against the professor are two separate issues, with the former being done on account of violation of a code of conduct by "maligning the reputation of the institution and its dean". By doing this, Dr Y Vidya principal director Symbiosis, speaking to Express said the "students are will not only dragging their names but also tarnishing the reputation of the institution which will eventually affect the placement of students." She said the girls were asked to vacate the hostel because they have been given a Term Not Granted due to the shortage.
"While other students have taken it well they are creating a ruckus and as a result, 800 students have signed a petition saying that these two are disturbing them. 30 teachers have also signed a petition and since they can't give exam we have asked their parents to take them away. But one parent has refused to take back his daughter," she said. The duo allegedly has faced three disciplinary committees in the past but never deposed before them.
