University of Mumbai law students to go on hunger strike over results delay

As the University of Mumbai has failed to declare the results of its law students more than 130 days after the winter semester exams got over, furious students are now planning to resort to a hunger strike starting Wednesday. 

As per the figures revealed by the university last week, over 13,000 exam papers from the law faculty are yet to be assessed, and it has been over four months after the exam. 

While the varsity said that it was working on a “war footing” to ensure that the results are declared on time, anxious students have now decided to occupy the varsity’s Kalina campus starting May 2 for their protest if the results are not out by then. 

“At a meeting with the administration and the students conducted on April 11, we were told that the results would be declared in the next 15 days. Now despite the asurance, there is no word from the varsity administration. This is sheer neglect from the side of the administration towards basic issues faced by the students,” said Sachin Pawar, president, Student Law Council. 

As per the figures revealed by the varsity last week, 13,375 of the 76,449 answer sheets were yet to be assessed.

Recently, the university passed a resolution in a Board of Examinations meeting to allow any lawyer who has two years of work experience to assess the students’ examination papers. 

The law faculty had earlier requested the university to allow them to opt out of the onscreen assessment. 
Professor Vaibhav Narawade, secretary of the Mumbai University and College Teachers Association (MUCTA), said that the varsity needs to do a rethink on its decision. 

“If incompetent people assess papers, who will take responsibility for what happens next?” asked Narawade.

LEFT HANGING

• Over 13,000 exam papers from the law faculty are yet to be assessed over four months after the exam.
   
• Students have now decided to occupy MU’s Kalina campus starting May 2, if results are not out by then. 
   
• Faculty members had earlier asked to be allowed to opt out of the onscreen assessment.