LAW COLLEGE RE-OPENS : CHENNAI

LAW COLLEGE RE-OPENS : CHENNAI 20 Jan 2009, 0044 hrs IST, TNN CHENNAI: More than two months after the Tamil Nadu Dr Ambedkar Government Law College here was closed down following a violent clash between students of two communities, boys and girls began to trickle into the classrooms in small numbers on Monday when the institution was reopened. A strong posse of policemen including armed personnel stood guard outside the gates of the college at Esplanade as students began arriving since 8 am, some of them accompanied by their parents. The police thoroughly checked vehicles and bags and allowed students to enter the campus after they produced their identity cards. Parents were not allowed inside the gate. The mood on the campus was partly tense, partly somber and very few students sported a smile on their faces. Students continued to come in even after 10 am, an hour after the scheduled class hours. "Today is the first day therefore the attendance is thin," college principal Mohammed Iqbal explained adding "we have taken every step to ensure that classes are conducted in a peaceful and orderly manner." Students were worried if the professors would be able to complete the syllabus on time for the even semester examinations slated for April/May. "I had quit my job to join the Law College. But now my biggest concern is whether the class hours will be adequate for catching up with the syllabus. It will be difficult for us to understand the legal aspects through self-studies," Rajni, a first year BL degree course student said. Another student, who did not wish to be named, was apprehensive about a possible backlash from students who were injured in the November 12 violence. "We don't want violence on the campus again. I was not here on that day, but when I watched the visuals of a group of boys battering another student on television, I was shaken. I hope that such incidents are not repeated," he said. While some girls were tensed, those like Prathiba were at ease. "We are used to such violence before. But they are all our guys and they will not harm the girls. So there is nothing to fear," she said. Chelladurai, a farmer from Tirunelveli whose daughter Madhuri Kabila studies at the institution, is however apprehensive about the safety of wards. "Naturally we will have a fear. At least for the next few days, I will accompany my daughter to the college and come back after class hours to pick her up," he said. Professor Iqbal, however, said that there was no cause for worry for the students or their parents. "The government is taking steps to fill up teaching vacancies and we will complete the syllabus on time. We are serious about conducting classes in a safe atmosphere," he said.

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