Varsity students 'denied' entry to spl convocation

LUCKNOW: Several students of Lucknow University were a disappointed lot on Tuesday after they were not allowed to attend a "special" convocation attended by President Pratibha Patil following delay in police verification while issuing their passes.
       
University authorities had decided to issue passes to only 800 students out of a total of around 40,000 for the convocation. However, passes of around 500 students could be prepared due to delay in police verification, a student leader, Shatanu Sharma, said.
       
The left out students lamented that due to tight security arrangements and non-issuance of passes they could not attend the convocation.
       
Even students with passes could not reach the venue as all roads leading to the university were blocked much before the start of the convocation, they added.
       
President of Lucknow University Associated College Teachers' Association, Maulindu Mishra, said the function was meant for students but they were missing from the function due to the "apathetic attitude" of the university administration.
       
A number of seats were seen lying vacant at the convocation venue, where 17 students were awarded medals when the number of medallists was much more, the students alleged.
       
The university authorities had earlier said degrees and medals will be awarded at regular convocations later. The "special" convocation was organised in view of the President's visit to the university, they said.