Pune — The peaceful protest by students at the Army Law College (ALC) in Pune has now entered its second week, prompting the intervention of the affiliating university, Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU). The students are demanding the resignation of the college principal, alleging a series of grievances ranging from academic mismanagement to mental harassment.
The protest, which began over a week ago, has seen a majority of the student body boycotting classes. The students have levelled serious accusations against the college administration, citing a hostile and oppressive environment on campus. Key among their complaints is the alleged arbitrary functioning of the administration, including abrupt changes in the academic timetable, faculty being assigned subjects outside their area of expertise, and a lack of a proper grievance redressal mechanism.
One of the major flashpoints of the protest has been the dissolution of the statutory student council, which students claim was a move to stifle their voices. Furthermore, allegations of discrimination based on the military rank of the students’ parents have also surfaced, causing significant unrest among the student community.
Initially, the college administration’s response was to call in the police, a move that the protesting students viewed as an attempt at intimidation. However, the students have remained steadfast in their peaceful protest, continuing their academic activities in open spaces on campus to avoid academic loss.
In a significant development, students have resumed attending classes and are adhering to all college regulations, marking a shift in their weeks-long protest. However, they remain firm on their primary demand: the resignation of the college principal.
As the protest continued to gain momentum, Savitribai Phule Pune University took cognizance of the matter. After initially seeking a clarification from the Army Law College administration, the university has now reportedly formed a committee to investigate the students’ complaints. This development is seen as a significant step towards resolving the impasse between the students and the college administration.
The students have reiterated that their primary demand is the resignation of the principal. They are also seeking the reinstatement of the student council, the formation of an independent fact-finding commission, and the establishment of a neutral grievance redressal committee to address their concerns. As the SPPU committee begins its investigation, all eyes are on the university to see how it will address the students’ demands and restore normalcy at the Army Law College, but the University committee went to investigate the matter had to come back empty-handed without conducting any investigation. This raises the question of whether the affiliated Army Law College has become bigger than the university.
