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UGC says campus security guidelines suggestive, not mandatory- 8-Oct-2015
New Delhi: Under pressure from the student bodies, UGC made it clear that the security guidelines for institutions which have a triggered a controversy are "suggestive" and not "mandatory" and that it was re-examining the vexed issue of setting up of police station on campus.
Student bodies and universities in different parts of the country are up-in-arms ever since the guidelines including construction of walls at a certain height, barbed wires, installation of CCTV cameras and presence of police personnel within campuses, were released by the University Grants Commission (UGC) in April this year.
The protesting students maintained that the guidelines will turn universities into jails and will promote moral policing by suggesting quarterly parent teacher meetings.
"The commission has deliberated on these guidelines before giving its approval and the directives are suggestive and not mandatory. The guidelines consolidate possible measures that can be taken by Higher Education Institutions (HEIs) to ensure their student," UGC said in a statement.
The reference to setting up of police stations on campus for quick handling of crisis and preventing untoward incidents is also being "re-examined", it added.
The commission said that the guidelines were framed after the tragedy in Himachal Pradesh, last year, when students, on an excursion, were washed away in the Beas river.
UGC also maintained that it had involved senior academicians and had framed the guidelines after wide consultations with the academic institutions, parents, students and other stakeholders.
The "Guidelines on Safety of Students on and off Campuses of Higher Educational Institutions" were shared in April with all varsities by UGC, asking them to amend their ordinances and other relevant statutory provisions to ensure the directions are implemented in the best interests of students.
The guidelines had stated that the university police station can go a long way in "instilling" a sense of security amongst students and scare amongst "nuisance makers and petty criminals".
UGC had also suggested adoption of some of the best practices implemented by campuses worldwide like the 'Warn Me' model developed by University of California, Berkley, helping in sending of emergency messages through Internet and mobiles.
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