Law varsity Vice-Chancellor has lost confidence of students, must step down: PAU ex-VC Aulakh

The protest by students of Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) entered its sixth day on Friday. The students have been demanding the removal of the Vice-Chancellor, Prof Jai Shankar Singh, for his "indecent comments" on their dress.

The students, who began their sit-in protest on September 22, have alleged that the VC entered girls’ hostel rooms without consent and made indecent comments on their dress.

Punjab Women Commission chairperson Raj Lali Gill has also sought the removal of VC.

Meanwhile, former VC of Punjab Agricultural University Kirpal Singh Aulakh is the latest in the league of educationists to have condemned Prof Jai Shankar Singh.

In a Facebook post, Aulakh wrote that not even six months had passed since the appointment of the VC and the allegations made by the students, especially girls, were serious in nature.

“He should have known how to treat students. VCs should be role models, guides for students, teachers, and staff. Raids in girls’ hostels at night are not only immoral but inhuman and illegal. For a teacher or VC, all students are like their daughters, sons. If he had any doubt, he should have sent it to a senior female teacher or warden, etc, and if a child made a mistake, he could have been explained lovingly as a parent,” stated Aulakh.

“... I can confidently say from my experience with my teacher, then Dean of Agriculture, PAU, that if you give a student full opportunity without impartiality with justice, they will not stand for riots. I was the Dean in that uncomfortable, violent atmosphere (1989-1994). I dropped a lot of kids out of college for three trimesters too. But after the sentence, I gave them permission for more courses and degrees and gave jobs to many,” he recollected.

“The attitude of this VC has shown, it is better if he leaves himself or else the Hon'ble Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, who is the Chancellor of this university, should dismiss him. He has lost the confidence of his students,” he added.

Among others, Congress general secretary Priyanka Gandhi, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, former Union minister Preneet Kaur and Patiala MP Dharamvira Gandhi have also expressed their support to the students.