Calcutta HC Orders Lockdown Of Student Union Rooms In Colleges Without Elected Bodies After Law Student’s Gang-Rape Case

The Calcutta High Court on Thursday directed the West Bengal government to lock student union rooms in colleges and universities where no recognised student body exists or no elections have been recently held.

The Court's move aims to prevent the misuse of such spaces, like in the South Calcutta Law College incident where the survivor was allegedly confined in the union room.

The Division Bench of Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Smita Das De issued the directions while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) arising from the shocking allegations.

The Bench directed the Higher Education Department to immediately notify all institutions to secure union rooms unless authorised student councils are in place. “No student shall be permitted to enter or use the said student union rooms except with written permission from the Registrar or a competent authority,” the Court added.

For South Calcutta Law College, the Court said that the Union room shall remain accessible only to the investigating agency until further orders. It also directed the college administration to resume academic activities without delay, ensuring the education of students is not disrupted.

Four people, including former Trinamool Chhatra Parishad leader Monojit Mishra, have been arrested so far on charges including gang rape, kidnapping, and wrongful confinement. A security guard of the college has also been detained.

During the hearing of another PIL, the Court demanded responses from the college and state authorities on how such a grave crime could take place within an educational campus.

The Bench acknowledged submissions that the survivor is receiving support from the SIT probing the matter.

Expressing concern for the survivor’s privacy, the Court warned against disclosing her identity and directed the State to issue advisories to media houses and act against any such breach on social media.

The Court also noted that images of other girl students being circulated online could wrongly suggest they are the victim, further complicating the situation.

[Inputs: The Hindu]