SUBHENDU MOHANTY Vs. STATE OF ORISSA AND ORS.

JUDGEMENT

(1.) W .P. [C] No. 16844 of 2010 has been filed in shape of Public Interest Litigation by one ex -student of Ravenshaw University (for short, "the University"). W.P.C.(C) 19200 of 2010 is filed by two Petitioners of whom Petitioner No. 1 is an old student of Ravenshaw College who was the President of the Students' Union during 1971 -72 and Petitioner No. 2 is a noted social activist who functioned as the President of the Students' Union of the Ravenshaw College in the year 1970 -71. He is a student guardian as well. They have given certain background of the institution stating that the College was established in the year 1869. It is the first and premier institution in the State of Orissa for imparting higher education. This institution has been a centre of excellence and it is at the forefront of imparting quality education in the country for over a century. It got converted to University in the year 2006 under the Ravenshaw University Act, 2006.

(2.) THESE writ petitions have been filed seeking for issuance of a writ of mandamus directing the opp. parties to declare the ongoing agitation in the University as illegal and take necessary legal action against the agitators, restore normalcy in the campus as early as possible and see that the name and fame of the University is protected in the larger interest and for imparting quality education to the students and making them as responsible citizens of the country.

(3.) THE University decided to allot the East Hostel of the institution to the girl students. A few students started agitation demanding allotment of the said Hostel to boy students. Taking advantage of inaction of the authorities, the protestors resorted to various illegal means for which the closure of the institution continued with the protestors' unrelenting stand over their demand. In this regard, news were published both in local and national dailies. The copies of the news clippings are produced under Annexure -1 series. Therefore, some ex -students and important personalities of the State intervened in the matter but due to non -co -operation of the authorities and obstinate attitude of the protesters the matter could not be resolved. For ten days the Main entrance was kept locked by the unruly protesters and the students were forcibly denied entry into the Campus for attending regular classes of their respective courses for which they have been admitted. The faculty members, staff members and common people were not allowed to enter inside the University Campus. Even the ex -students, guardians, who came for the purpose of certificates and other purposes were also frustrated which resulted in complete breakdown of educational and other activities of the Institution. Even the mid -semester examination of post graduate classes were to be postponed due to the ongoing situations, other examinations are knocking at the door.