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Army Institute of Law, Mohali stands strong in protest.
Time and against the students of various Law colleges across the country have faced the instances of administrative discrimination, impartiality and hostile behaviors. And there have been several protests and boycotts for addressing this issue. The same is now being witnessed by the Army Institute of Law, Mohali (AIL), wherein more than 200 students have been protesting against the administrative bias that they are facing.
AIL is set upon the aegis of Army Welfare and Education Society and runs on a Code of Conduct (Code) which shall be followed and observed as a mandate by all the students. The Code specifically mentions that the students shall abide by all the provisions, rules and regulations mentioned in it as a habit instead of being under the fear of facing the harsh consequences of not following the Code. In spite of this being mentioned in the Code there are several fines which are imposed on the students for any smallest breach of the rules and regulations. Not only this but, there have been several instances where the students have been asked to pay unnecessary fines.
The students are hence protesting against the arbitrary activities occurring in the institute. On 4th October, 2019 the students formulated a joint petition which was send to the dignitaries in Western Command and AWES, New Delhi and also to the Principal and Registrar of AIL, Mohali. However, no satisfactory action was taken by the administrative authorities. Further, on 15th October, 2019 the Google Forms were filled by the students and the response was send to the authorities and the student community decided on a non-cooperative strike until all the eight demands of the students are met.
The joint petition of the student community addresses the following seven issues and demands a speedy redressal of these issues. As per the rules Natural Justice the students demand that their demands be accepted as per justice equity and good conscience. The issues are-
- Mandatory attendance up to 85% as against the requirement prescribed by the Punjabi University and Rules of Legal Education, Bar Council of India.
- Exclusion of student representation and voting for the appointment of student representatives:
- Arbitrary and unnecessary imposition of fines:
- Unaccountable authorities- Indiscriminate rule-making and rule-amending powers, without assigning due reasons or giving prior notice:
- Restriction on joint action by the students, including, combined petitions
- Faculty members: Inadequate student representation in appointment of concerned faculty, lack of initiative to invite student feedback:
- Inadequate representation of the students in the decision making for hiring of service providers viz.-a-viz. cafeteria, mess etc.
Addressing these issues the students have made eight demands before the administrative authorities and have decided to be on strike and ensure non-cooperation to the authorities. On 15th October, 2019 at around 9:30 pm the authorities tried to wrongfully confine the students and in protest of this at around 10:30 pm around 300 students gathered at the college entrance and stood there with the wish to meet the Registrar who was at that time present in the Institute itself. While 300 students guarded the front gate the Registrar, AIL, Mohali ran out the backdoor to sleep in the comfort of his own house while these students slept on mattresses guarding the front gate. Following are the eight demands of the Student Council, AIL, Mohali-
- Appointment of democratically elected interim student body, consisting of representative appointed after student voting in co-existence with the existing prefectorial body The sole purpose of the constitution of the said student body shall be proposing amendments in the existing code of conduct, so as to offer permanent solutions to the above explained problems. It is acknowledged that the process entails the involvement of administration and the said body shall endeavor to arrive at a mutually satisfactory code.
- Interim revocation of the provisions of the Code as has been challenged, expressly o impliedly, in the foregoing sections, to stay in force until finalization of the amendments I the exiting code. Such as: Section 1.3(b), 1.12(g), 4.5 (c), 4.16(b), 4.18(h)(ii)(aa) R/W 2.16(a), 4.19, 4.21(a)(i) R/W 1.8, 4.21(a)(vi) R/W 1.19(c), 4.21(a)(vii), 4.21(a)(xii) R/W 1.34(c), 4.21(a)(xiv) etc.
- Mandating a system of mock lecture for fresh recruitment of faculty members, and inviting anonymous feedback with respect to existing faculty by the end of each semester.
- Immediate redressal of complaints against the services provided in cafeteria and mess viz-a-viz poor quality and excessive pricing, in addition to devising a system of student participation in their hiring and encouraging periodical feedback as to their services.
- Defining the composition of the Board of Inquiry along with the criteria for the same, with equal student representation.
- Lifting the restriction of student movement within the campus post 23:00 hours, for both male and female students alike.
- Constitution of an impartial and democratic Board of inquiry to look into the conduct of the female warden, until the completion of which an interim appointment shall be made in her place.
- Addressing the hike in fees levied in the current academic year, as against static quality of hostels, IT facilities, sports infrastructure etc.
