Puri: Shri Jagannath Sanskrit University authorities here have decided to install CCTV cameras at all their examination centres following allegations of inappropriate frisking of girls.
The decision was taken after a group of girl students of BN Sanskrit (degree) College at Tukuna in Keonjhar district which is affiliated to the varsity, brought allegations of misbehaviour against a member of the Syndicate of the varsity. They complained that a male Syndicate member frisked them inappropriately on the pretext of checking during the second year Shastri (degree) examination.
A three-member team from the BN College comprising principal Indira Subhadarshini and, lecturers Gopinath Panda and Manoranjan Padhi Wednesday, appeared before a probe committee constituted by the varsity and delivered their statements.
On the other hand, rumours are doing the rounds that the varsity authorities have put pressure on the college to cover up the incident as it was not an isolated case of misconduct by a processor of the varsity. The varsity authorities had earlier covered up a similar incident in which a girl student had accused a professor of misbehaviour, it was alleged.
Sources said college principal and two lecturers appeared before the probe panel between 1pm and 3pm and separately produced their statements detailing the whole incident. The accused Syndicate member had earlier submitted a written statement before the probe panel in this regard.
When asked, the college principal said, “On the basis of the complaints made by the girl students, we have submitted a copy of their complaints each to varsity vice-chancellor and the Higher Education department. We appeared before the probe committee and presented our statements following a prior notice.” Two lecturers of the college, however, refused to comment.
When contacted, vice-chancellor Radhamadhab Das rubbished the allegations of any pressure from the varsity. He said, “A committee comprising PG chairman Harihar Hota and controller of examinations Madhusudan Mishra has been formed to probe the matter”.
The college principal and two lecturers presented their statements. To prevent recurrence of such incident, he added that they have decided to install CCTV cameras in all their examination centres from the next academic year. The issue will be further discussed in the next Syndicate meeting.
