Meet Anil Jain. Anil Jain runs a photocopy shop in Faculty of Arts, Delhi University (DU). Anil Jain is a happy man now that the High Court has ruled in favour of photocopying of books by students. He says, “In a day, at least 25 students come to my shop to get their books photocopied. A book that would cost them Rs 100 in the market, costs them Rs 50 if they get it photocopied. Toh iss ban se sirf humari sales pe fark nahi paddta, students ko bhi problem hoti.”
After three international publishers, who had filed a case against a photocopier in DU, lost the case recently, students and photocopiers alike are rejoicing. Anil Jain’s sentiments are echoed by several other students who are regulars at the Patel Chest or Faculty of Arts photocopiers. Tarun Thapar, an MA Philosophy student at DU, says, “I’ve been getting books photocopied for as long as I can remember. Some of our course books are by international authors and only a billionaire’s son can afford them. Most of us prefer issuing a copy from the library and getting them photocopied instead of buying them. Thank God the judiciary understands the needs of the students.”
Read: Publishers lose copyright case against DU’s photocopy shop
The high cost of course books is not the only reason why students find themselves marching to photocopiers, armed with several books. Supratik Das, a third year B.Com (Hons) student at Ramjas College, shares that often times, it is due to the unavailability of books in the library. He adds, “We don’t usually buy books as most are prescribed only for one semester, so that expenditure doesn’t make sense. And there are 125 students in my class and aisa hi ek section aur hai. How many books do you think the library stocks? Not enough for all of us, for sure. Photocopy hi karayenge phir!”
{{/usCountry}}The high cost of course books is not the only reason why students find themselves marching to photocopiers, armed with several books. Supratik Das, a third year B.Com (Hons) student at Ramjas College, shares that often times, it is due to the unavailability of books in the library. He adds, “We don’t usually buy books as most are prescribed only for one semester, so that expenditure doesn’t make sense. And there are 125 students in my class and aisa hi ek section aur hai. How many books do you think the library stocks? Not enough for all of us, for sure. Photocopy hi karayenge phir!”
{{/usCountry}}Read: Photocopy ban leaves DU students in quandary
While most students are appreciating the move, some believe that even if the ban on photocopying had been placed, it would not have made a difference. Vaishnavi Saxena, a student of Campus Law Centre, says, “Most printers have photocopiers in them these days so students can take prints at home only. And waise bhi shops mein ke kaun check karega ki kis student ne kya photocopy karaya?”