Kolkata, October 5 (Daily Kiran) : The Kolkata High Court has issued a directive to the West Bengal government to ensure the safety of students across university campuses in the state. This ruling came from a division bench led by Chief Justice Ravindra Vitthalrao Ghuge and Justice Om Narayan Rai during a hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) demanding adequate security measures in educational institutions.
The bench emphasized that merely installing CCTV cameras is insufficient for student safety. It urged the state government to take a more proactive role in safeguarding campuses. University officials submitted reports detailing their security arrangements, primarily noting the installation of CCTV systems.
In response to these reports, the court reiterated that enhanced security measures must extend beyond surveillance cameras. The bench highlighted the necessity of creating a conducive academic environment while ensuring student safety. It also stressed the importance of maintaining order on campuses, directing universities to adopt strict measures against any form of chaos.
The court specifically pointed to Diamond Harbour Women’s University, stressing that there should be no negligence in security protocols there. On Monday, the division bench requested security reports from other universities, which have yet to be submitted. The next hearing on this matter is scheduled for December 10.
Concerns over campus safety have escalated recently, particularly following incidents of external attacks at the Satyajit Ray Film and Television Institute (SRFTI) in Kolkata, where multiple clashes occurred within a week. Earlier, similar confrontations were reported between the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) at the renowned Jadavpur University.
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