44 MA students allege varsity failed them ‘on purpose’, plan agitation

Forty-four students from Birla College in Kalyan are planning to stage a protest against the University of Mumbai on Wednesday.

Forty-four students from Birla College in Kalyan are planning to stage a protest against the University of Mumbai on Wednesday.

HT Image

The students, who are pursuing a Masters degree in political science, are protesting after failing their first-year MA final exam as they feel they were failed on purpose.

Harshal Bhalerao, a student, said, “Even though I have been a consistent topper, I have failed. Although I was present for all my papers, I have been marked absent for some of them. How is this possible?”

The students said they got their results on August 11, after which they complained to the college administration about their results.

However, even after two weeks, the college has not approached the University, the students said.

They have now approached the Nationalist Congress Party’s (NCP) youth wing, and will hold a dharna at Azad Maidan.

Manish Metre, the president of the NCP’s youth wing in Kalyan said, “We had approached the college administration and the head of the department. But none of them told us what steps were being taken to ensure justice to these students. Therefore, we have decided to hold this dharna. We will also fast unto death until our demands are heard.”

Metre also said that they have written to the education minister and the Mumbai University and are awaiting their reply.