Surendranath Law College Vice Principal Resigns After 23-Hour Student Protest

The Vice Principal of Surendranath Law College in Kolkata, Mohammadi Tarannum, resigned on Friday, September 11, following a 23-hour protest by students over the institution's attendance requirements.

The stand-off, led by the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), centred on the rule that students must attend 70% of classes to be eligible for semester examinations — a criterion several students had been unable to meet. The protest involved heated exchanges between the students and Ms. Tarannum, who alleged that she was confined to her room through the night and that the lights and fan were switched off.

In her resignation letter, Ms. Tarannum cited "certain unavoidable family, health-related and personal issues." Speaking to reporters afterwards, however, she said she had been targeted and forced to resign. "The 70% attendance requirement is set by the Bar Council of India, neither me nor anyone else can alter this. I cannot take this pressure anymore. I fell sick, I was locked here for the whole night, no one came to rescue me," she said. As she was escorted out of the college by police officers, she repeated, "I did not resign, I did not resign."

Ms. Tarannum said she had sought help from Kaustav Bagchi, the minister-in-charge of the Department of Higher Education, who she said had promised to intervene. Mr. Bagchi told local media that he agreed with the attendance requirement for semester examinations, but questioned how the college could enforce it. "However, that place does not even have a proper attendance register. How will they keep attendance if there is no system in place?" he said. He also alleged a culture of political favouritism at the college, with an inclination towards the previous Trinamool Congress government.

The ABVP welcomed the resignation. "Students will not tolerate discrimination, arbitrary decisions, or misuse of authority in educational institutions. The Vice-Principal's resignation is a victory for students' rights and academic justice," said Ananta Barui, the outfit's state media in-charge. Veenit Sharma, a first-year law student, said the protesters had "purified" the place by sprinkling Ganga Jal and lighting incense sticks, adding that they had to "get the previous regime out of her room." Mr. Sharma also alleged that students who attended Trinamool rallies during the previous regime were given 100% attendance.