By IANS,
Chandigarh : Following a legal notice served by their teacher, Panjab University’s history students Monday went on the backfoot and said they did not intend to hurt the sentiments of anyone in their complaint.
Surinder Singh, a faculty member in the history department of the university, slapped a legal notice against 17 students of his department asking them to take back their complaint against him or face legal consequences.
The students in a written complaint with the university dean alleged that Singh had “deliberately” failed them for the second time in the same subject.
Singh sent a legal notice through his counsel, asking the students to withdraw the complaint within 15 days. He would otherwise file a defamation case, claiming damages of Rs.10 lakh from each student for maligning him, Singh added.
History department’s chairperson Rajiv Lochan Monday called an emergency meeting to discuss the matter.
“Surinder Singh had also attended the meeting but he did not talk much. Our complaint has been taken in the wrong context,” a student who attended the meeting told IANS.
According to him, only students of “Medieval India – Political Process” course being taught by Surinder Singh, were failed and they demanded an immediate revaluation.
“However, we tendered an unconditional apology during the meeting. If, unknowingly, we have hurt Surinder sir’s sentiments, then we are very sorry about that,” he said.
According to the department records, 23 students of first year MA had failed in the subject last year and all of them again failed in the same subject this year.
“The students have apologised. I hope that this issue will reach its logical end soon,” Surinder Singh told IANS.
The Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) leaders have come forward in support of the 17 students.