The Kolkata law college where a 24-year-old student was allegedly raped last week announced that classes will be suspended and the institution’s premises will remain closed for all students until further notice.
The decision was taken by the college’s governing body and a notification was issued in this regard on its website on Sunday.
“All B.A.LL.B and LL.M (General and Honours) classes… will be Suspended and the College Premises will remain closed for all Students until further notice as decided by the Governing Body,” the notice read.
The female student was allegedly raped in the security guard’s room on the campus on June 25 and four people, including prime accused, Monojit Mishra, 31, a former college student and a contractual staffer, have been arrested in this connection.
On Monday, students of the law college submitted a deputation to the vice principal, raising concerns over safety on the campus, demanding “structural reforms”.
The memorandum stated, “The environment of the institution, both in terms of safety and academic standards, has been compromised and degraded due to repeated and unchecked malpractices, many of which stem from political interference, administrative inaction, and lack of structural accountability.”
The students outlined a series of demands aimed at restoring “dignity, discipline, and academic purpose” on campus.
Among the demands is the creation of an “apolitical” campus environment, with a strict prohibition on the formation or operation of political units or activities within the college until the next student body elections.
They also sought the installation of CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points, corridors, classrooms, libraries, staircases, union rooms, and common areas to improve transparency and deter misconduct.
The letter emphasised that “security and education” must be the college’s top priorities, calling for a dedicated grievance redressal mechanism available both online and offline.
The students further demanded that authorities be held accountable for “systemic negligence”, stating that responsibility should not be limited to isolated incidents, but must address a broader culture of tolerance for illegal and disruptive behaviour, “often linked to political affiliations”.
Citing a visible “decline” in educational quality, they called for the revival of academic activities, including moot court sessions, legal aid camps, debates, and student academic forums, to strengthen legal training and professional development.
They also demanded strict adherence to the academic calendar, with scheduled class timings enforced and penalties for habitual defaulters among both students and faculty.
Among the logistical issues raised was the demand for secure access to the union room, with its keys held by a neutral college authority to prevent unauthorized control by students or staff.
They also asked for the formation of an active internal complaints committee (ICC) under the Prevention of Sexual Harassment (POSH) Act. In case the current ICC is inactive or compromised, the victims should be guided to file complaints with the University Grants Commission (UGC) or the Ministry of Education, they said.
The students called for the establishment of a non-political student safety committee, tasked with conducting awareness drives, raising safety concerns, and representing victims without fear of retribution.
They demanded a “zero-tolerance policy on drugs, violence, and sexual misconduct”, along with a fair and independent inquiry into the matter.
They also requested access to counselling and mental health services, suggesting the appointment of a full-time counsellor or a partnership with a mental health organisation.
Insisting on mandatory cooperation with law enforcement, they asked the college to hand over all relevant CCTV footage and evidence from the day of the incident to the police and fully assist the investigation to ensure justice is served.
The letter also included a demand for the formation of a women’s grievance redressal cell, independent and apolitical, to address issues specific to female students.
Finally, they called for fair and democratic student council elections, limited strictly to current students, with the process conducted in accordance with statutory provisions.
“We hope our representation will be taken in the right spirit, as it comes from a genuine place of concern and responsibility,” the letter concluded.