Student unrest at Berhampur college demanding transfer of Principal, faculty

Over a hundred students of Kabiraj Ananta Tripathy Sharma Ayurvedic College in Berhampur staged an indefinite sit-in on Wednesday, demanding the transfer of its Principal and three faculty members. Allegations of academic mismanagement and intimidation have fuelled the ongoing unrest.

According to sources, tension is mounting at the private college, located on the outskirts of Berhampur, as more than a hundred students have launched an indefinite Dharna (sit-in protest). Their primary demand is the immediate transfer of the principal and three faculty members, accusing them of mismanagement and harassment.

The agitating students claim that the college lacks a clear academic calendar, particularly for the examinations. According to them, exams and result announcements are being done arbitrarily, creating confusion and stress among students and jeopardising their academic progression.

Further compounding their grievances, students allege that the administration imposes fines ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 300 for even minor mistakes. In some cases, students were allegedly threatened with career repercussions for raising concerns or committing small mistakes.

“We never know when exams will be held or results will be declared. There’s no consistency. And if you ask questions, you’re threatened that your career will be ruined,” some students stated to mediapersons.

The college administration, however, has denied the allegations. The Principal has rejected the accusations, stating that procedures are being followed in accordance with institutional norms and that the protest is being ‘instigated by misinformation’.

As the standoff enters its third day, no resolution has yet been reached.

Students remain firm on continuing the protest until their demands are met. The issue has now drawn attention from local student organisations and could soon reach the higher education authorities for intervention.

“An NCICM (National Commission for Indian System of Medicine, New Delhi) is there that regulates some medical colleges in the country. Accordingly, the exams conducted in our institution are based on the double-valuation system. The answer sheets are coded and sent to examiners. Awarded numbers are divided, as a result of which, some students have scored fewer marks,” the college Principal Bipini Bihari Khuntia said.

"Perhaps the students became upset due to their poor results and hence staged protest," the Principal added.