Mangaluru: Mangaluru Rural Police on Thursday April 29 registered a case against the management of Expert Pre-University College, Valachil, in the outskirts of Mangaluru, under the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act for holding classes and other academic activities on the campus.
The college has also been alleged of being responsible for some parents holding a protest for not sending the students back home. The parents had arrived from as far as Vijayapura, Dharwad, Tarikere and other parts of the State like Sullia, Puttur as early as six in the morning and waited outside the campus gate until evening, when finally, the management on the advice of the district administration agreed to let the students go with their parents.
The parents said that as there were no classes and the practical examinations have also been postponed, there was no need for retaining the children in the hostel.
Speaking to News Karnataka, Police Inspector of Mangaluru Rural police station, Johnson D’Souza said that a notice will be issued to the management demanding an explanation for not following the covid guidelines set forth by the government. “A case has been registered against Chairman of Expert Group of Institutions Narendra Nayak and other members of the management of the institution for offences under Section 5 (1) and 5 (4) of the Karnataka Epidemic Diseases Act.
Institution’s stand on the issue
Clarifying on this incident, Narendra Nayak told News Karnataka that the college is closed during the lockdown as per government guidelines. “Few students are in the hostel as per their wish and permission of their parents. They systematically follow the COVID guidelines,” he said.
Regarding the protest by the parents, he said that they didn’t have the patience to wait and were in a hurry to take their wards. “During lockdown period they shouldn’t have come to the campus. We had sent a mail in this regard and suggested them not to come. Suddenly they came without prior intimation and handing over the students will take more time in such cases. Students too take time in packing. Case must be booked against those who protested for breaking the rules of lockdown,” he said.
He confirmed that after the usual procedure, the students were handed over to their respective parents. “Whoever has booked the case didn’t visit the campus at all,” he said.
