'One-day V-C' of law varsity takes major decisions

No noisy birthday parties, double fine for breaking rules

Anurag Srivastava, the fourth semester law student, who was made the “vice-chancellor” of the Lucknow-based prestigious Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University for one day on Teachers’ Day (September 5), took these decisions in a meeting of the core committee, also comprising the students.

On Teachers’ Day, the administration and teaching of the varsity were handed over by the vice-chancellor of the varsity, Prof Balraj Chauhan, to the students to “familiarise” them with “good governance” and “value of discipline.”

The VC’s post was given to the top student of the fourth semester Anurag Srivastava, the dean’s post was occupied by Akanksha Mishra, who had attained the second position.

An excited Srivastava reached the office at 8.30 am, an hour before the scheduled time, and went through the files after summoning the deputy registrar. He took a round of the varsity along with his team. He had directed the seniors to take the classes. University teachers, including Prof Chauhan, were on leave on the day to allow the students a free hand in taking decisions.

Srivastava and his core committee members reviewed the ongoing work on the varsity campus and also enquired about the problems being faced by the students. It was decided that round-the-clock emergency medical facilities would be provided to the students. Keeping in view the difficulties in parking of vehicles, the VC directed that the students would park their vehicles on the vacant land near the main gate of the varsity.

All the decisions taken by the “one-day VC” would be sent to Prof Chauhan, who said that they would be implemented if found to be in accordance with the rules and regulations of the varsity.

Prof Chahuan said that the “novel exercise” succeeded in giving the students a taste of “good governance” and “practical difficulties” encountered by the authorities in day-to-day administration of the varsity.

Srivastava also echoed similar sentiments. “We were able to see for ourselves the problems and difficulties...it was a unique experiment,” he told Deccan Herald.

First year students also appreciated the experiment. “It certainly taught a lot to us as well,” quipped Krishna Agarwal and Anvisha Kumar.