Kolkata: Vice-chancellor of Presidency University gheraoed, spends night in office

Presidency University students have gheraoed Vice-chancellor Anuradha Lohia since last night, in a protest against giving autonomy to departments on holding admission tests.

As students gathered outside her office for a sit-in demonstration since last evening, Lohia was forced to spent the night at her office.

The gherao is on and the VC is confined in her office.

Presidency Students' Council leaders say their protest will continue till the VC agrees to hold an open forum discussion on the issue of admission tests with students.

"So far admissions in each department was held on the basis of admission tests. But now they are giving autonomy to every department to decide whether they want admission tests or not. We are opposed to this. We want admission tests to remain like earlier," said union's vice-president Amardeep Singh.

A student delegation went to seek an explanation from the authorities yesterday and demanded an open forum discussion on the issue which was refused.

Lohia said the governing board has decided to give autonomy to departments on holding tests for admission.

"The departments will decide on whether they will have admission tests or want to admit students on the basis of their marks," she said.