Attendance shortage: jamia expels 300 students

Around 300 first-year students pursuing various post-graduate courses of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have been expelled for failing to meet the minimum attendance requirement.

Around 300 first-year students pursuing various post-graduate courses of Jamia Millia Islamia (JMI) have been expelled for failing to meet the minimum attendance requirement.

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The varsity introduced semester system in the post-graduate courses from this academic session.

The university authorities said the admission prospectus clearly mentioned that anyone failing to meet the minimum 75% attendance in each semester will be barred from sitting for the first semester examination and will also not be allowed to seek readmission in the second semester.

The university though gives a 15% relaxation in special cases such as illness and to sportspersons.

“This is not something new, as in the annual mode if someone does not meet the required attendance they are not allowed to sit for the examination and the same rule applies here as well,” said Simi Malhotra, media coordinator, JMI.

Some of the students who have been expelled alleged that they were not aware that they will be expelled due to lack of attendance and the varsity should have informed them.

“The university prospectus said the required attendance was for the whole academic year and not just one semester,” said an expelled student from Peace and Conflict Resolution which has been affected the most where 14 out of a class of 28 students has fallen short of the required attendance.

Vice Chancellor Najeeb Jung said, “This step is in accordance with the ordinances of the varsity. The students should realise that the courses they are doing are serious and any kind of non-serious attitude will not be tolerated.”

Some of the expelled students said that would seek legal recourse against the varsity if they were not allowed to sit for the examination.