Revoke expulsion of college students: Human rights body

The People’s Union for Civil Liberties Association today staged a protest at Himachal Pradesh University (HPU), Shimla, against the expulsion of six students from the Centre of Excellence, Government Post Graduate College, Sanjauli, and demanded that the college authorities immediately revoke the expulsion.

During the protest, Former Theog MLA Rakesh Singha said the expulsions followed a series of events linked to student activism.

When students of the college staged a protest against the rising electricity and water supply bills, the college principal allegedly targeted the protesting students in an attempt to suppress the movement, he added.

“The situation escalated when an incident of molestation involving a female student came to light. Several students approached the college principal to raise concerns about the incident, but instead of addressing their grievances, the administration allegedly treated the students poorly, with some being physically assaulted. When the issue became public, the college administration retaliated by expelling six students illegally, accusing them of causing disturbances. Despite more than a month having passed, the expulsions have not been revoked, thus denying the students their right to education,” Singha said.

Vijender Mehra, former president of the HPU Central Student Union, also criticised the college administration and said the administration was putting students’ futures at risk.

A delegation of the association had met with the Vice-Chancellor of HPU twice, and urged him to intervene in the matter, but the VC did not take any action in this regard, he added. The association has warned of intensifying their movement if the expulsion is not revoked.