Recently, the University of Lucknow was highlighted in news articles due to the Lal Baradari controversy.
Different political parties clashed with each other over the issue of Lal Baradari, which led to unrest on campus. The university environment became highly unstable, and heavy police deployment was witnessed, making the campus feel like a jail due to strict security protocols.
Thousands of students who travel from miles away to attend their daily classes were forced to return home because of the political protests and poor administration by the university authorities.
The university administration released a notice stating that students who fail to submit their fees by 28 February will have their admissions cancelled. This raises a serious question: how can a government university impose rules similar to those of private colleges?
Thousands of students depend on scholarships to pay their fees, yet many have not received their scholarship amounts so far. Because of this delay, their fee submission has been put on hold. For reasons completely beyond their control, students are being penalised, and the administration is playing with their academic future by threatening cancellation of admission.
What is even more concerning is that no one who claims to be a “Chhatra Neta” (student leader) has come forward to oppose these rules. Instead of standing with students, they are focused only on the Lal Baradari issue, seeking media attention to highlight their so-called supreme leaders. They seem to have forgotten that the word “Chhatra” comes first in “Chhatra Neta”, meaning their primary duty is towards students, not political parties or leaders.
During the protests, no serious student-related issues were discussed. Matters directly affecting students- such as fees, scholarships, and academic stability– were ignored, while issues beyond the university’s core concerns dominated the protests. Even after the ban on student council elections, different political groups continue to exist within the university, dividing students along political lines and disrupting unity on campus.
In relation to this, a similar protest took place on 25 February in Lucknow University’s New Campus where the fees has currently run into lakhs. Students protested against 28th February being declared the last date for fee submission, which is creating serious difficulties for many students.
During the protest, some incidents of indiscipline occurred. A few students reportedly closed the gates, following which additional security personnel were deployed. In the course of these events, Additional Proctor Dr. Mohammad Ahmad suffered an arm injury.
On 26th February, the Proctor and the Vice-Chancellor’s team visited the New Campus to hold discussions with the students. However, no decision has yet been announced, and no relief has been provided against this anti-student rule.
Every student must remember that neither political parties nor the administration come to help them. Students can rely only on themselves. Therefore, students should stand united, support one another, and think about the welfare of students- not the welfare of political parties or faculty members.