LUCKNOW UNIVERSITY VANDALISM Vs. STATE OF U.P.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Education is the light that shows a mankind the right direction to surge. The purpose of education is not just making a student literate but adds rationale thinking, knowledge and self-sufficiency. If education fails to inculcate self-discipline and commitment to achieve in the minds of a student, it is not their fault but it is somehow the fault of the entire system. Education is an engine for the growth and progress of any society; it not only imparts knowledge and skill along with inculcating values but is also responsible for building human capital which creates, operates and sets technical, innovation and economic growth. Besides the above, if the atmosphere of any educational institution, in particular that of higher educational institution is not worthy of studying, nothing can be achieved out of that organisation and all that the students would achieve would be the degraded values, uncivilised and rustic behaviour, irresponsible attitude towards the society and nation, sense of irresponsibility for one and all, etc. Resultant thereof there would be no scope and hope for development of the society and nation in all walks of life, whether it is social, economic, technical, political, philosophical etc. If the atmosphere of any higher educational system / institutes is destroyed, it results in the complete destruction of the values and thus the very purpose of such an organisation is defeated.

(2.) In a backdrop of peculiar facts and circumstances, this Court took cognizance of a news item published in almost all the newspapers in respect of an unbecoming and unfortunate incident dated 4.7.2018 whereby a group of about 25 students, some of whom were rusticated students of the Lucknow University, entered into the University premises in the morning, blocked the way of the Vice Chancellor, raised slogans and threatened him of dire consequences. The motive of the aforesaid untoward incident was to pressurise the Vice Chancellor to take back the rusticated students in the University. It appeared that the said move was politically motivated inasmuch as the slogans to that kind were being uttered by some of the rusticated students. Anyhow, the Vice Chancellor escaped from the aforesaid vandalism with the aid and assistance of the security personnel of the University, but in the afternoon when the Vice Chancellor was returning from one function, these students attacked him and his security inside the University campus, resultant thereof about ten teachers of the University were injured along with several security personnel and other ministerial staff of the University. Taking suo moto cognizance of the aforesaid incident in question, this Court passed an order dated 5.7.2018 as under: -

(3.) The purpose to take suo moto cognizance of the aforesaid incident was not confined to Lucknow University, but was to bring under its ambit and take judicial notice of a state-wide issue of rampant vandalism and anarchy prevalent in most government aided institutions / Universities in the State, relating to the environment in higher educational institutions, University or Degree College or Medical College or Management College etc. so as to ensure an atmosphere which is conducive and which encourages the students to attain their goals as per their dreams, and where parents do not hesitate in sending their wards to the institution concerned for the reason of any non-congenial, un-academic or unruly atmosphere. If the atmosphere of the higher University / Institute is such where vandalism, goondaism and anarchy is so deep rooted and is a routine feature, no sensible and responsible parent and student would prefer to take admission there. Normally, such types of incidents take place in higher Universities / Institutions, which are managed and controlled by the Government as against the private Institutions / Universities that maintain proper discipline. The stark contrast between the institutions managed / controlled by the Government and private universities / institutions is glaring when it comes to lack of security measures for students and staff on University campus. This Court vide order dated 6.7.2018 expressed its concern as under: -