Uni non-academic staff to go on strike

Wednesday, 22 February 2012 20:39

Non-academic university staff will go on a 48 hour countrywide strike starting today (Thursday) in protest against the government’s failure to provide higher wages and benefits to them, unions said.

The Executive Officers, Academic Sub-ordinary and University Executive Staff Union Joint Committee said they had earlier requested for an increase in wages but had not received it. They had met with the Salary Cadre Commission last year and then on February 2 discussed a proposal to increase wages but had not received a response.

The union’s Co-President R.M Chandrapala said in the wake of increased fuel prices a salary hike was needed. “During discussions the commission assured us that it would compile a report in 14 days to come to some sort of solution. However nothing has been done yet,” Chandrapala said. (Olindhi Jayasundere)

You have got to find what you love

February 22, 2012, 7:52 pm , The Island.


Convocation Address at the of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura,
(Sixth Session) 
on February 7, 2012

by Prof. L. L. Ratnayake
Senior Professor of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa
Director, HETC Project, Ministry of Higher Education

Dear Graduates, you must always remember your parents (or guardians), teachers and others who helped you to come up to this stage of your life. While acknowledging the fact that it was you who worked hard to earn your degree, you must not forget the fact that your parents (or guardians) as well as your brothers, sisters, grandparents and others who have made many sacrifices to send you here to get a degree from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. All of them must be very proud about your achievements. We all rejoice at your success.

You are young adults who have just entered the world of work, and started to make very important decisions in life. It is customary in Sri Lanka to give some advice to the young graduates at our convocations by a senior personality, to mould your future life. Let me attempt to do that for you in the next 15 minutes or so.

First, I would like to quote a few lines from well known personalities in the world;

Steve Jobs, co-founder and CEO of Apple Computers and Pixar Animation Studios, USA, who passed away recently, said "you have got to find what you love"

Dear Graduates, try not to do things just because your friends, relations or even your parents want you to do them, at least at this stage of your life. Now that you are armed with a well recognized degree from a very good University, you need to find what you like and love to do most, whatever the degree you have got from this University. If you have the determination, courage and trust in yourself, you can make your life and career in what you love and enjoy. You may have to undergo some initial hardships, but I am sure you will excel in what you do in the future.

Steve Jobs dropped out from University (Reed College), because he did not want to waste his parents’ money learning the subjects he had to learn for the College Degree, as he thought that there was no value in them for what he wanted to do with his life - even though at that time he had no clear idea of what he really wanted to do with his life. Instead, he chose to follow some courses that interested him, one of which was in calligraphy – the art of making beautiful handwriting - as it excited him. He had no idea that this was going to help him enormously later on in his life. He started Apple Computers in his parents’ garage, with a friend, when he was just 20 years old. They worked hard, and in 10 years, produced their first creation – the Macintosh, when he was just 30 years old. Apple Computers, which had superior abilities for beautiful art and graphical designs, had a huge market edge over other computers. His studies in calligraphy helped him do this. It grew from just 2 people in a garage into a $2 billion company with 4,000 employees.

In his Commencement Speech at Stanford University, he said;

"If I had never dropped out, I would have never dropped in on this calligraphy class, and personal computers might not have the wonderful typography that they do. Of course it was impossible to connect the dots looking forward when I was in college. But it was very, very clear looking backwards ten years later.

You can’t connect the dots looking forward; you can only connect them looking backwards. So you have to trust that the dots will somehow connect in your future. You have to trust in something - your gut, destiny, life, karma, whatever. This approach has never let me down, and it has made all the difference in my life."

Prof. Ruth Westheimers, a well known Professor and Media Psychologist in the USA said "My favourite animal is a turtle. The reason is that in order for a turtle to move, it has to stick its neck out".

There are going to be many times in your life, when you will have to stick your neck out. There will be challenges, and, just like the turtle, if you need to move on, instead of hiding in your shell, you will have to be brave enough to go out and meet them. You should not be scared to do the right thing in your life. Such people always do well in life and are respected in society.

Chris Mathews, renowned television host and speech-writer for former US President Jimmy Carter said "If you want to play the game, go to where it is played and find a way to get in. Things happen when you get in the game". As educated youth of this country, you can always find a place in society and industry. You may feel that joining an institution, organization, club or group is good for your career development or social life. However, hesitating to join them, thinking that you do not have enough qualifications, abilities or the background for it will not take you anywhere. You must learn how to get into it. Once you are in it, you will be able to show your colours, as you, being graduates of this esteemed University, belong to the cream of our society. If you did not try and find your way in, you would never know your potential.

Now, I want to emphasize on the importance of self confidence and determination in order to succeed in life.

Dr. Abdul Kalam, former President of India, when he addressed the undergraduates of University of Moratuwa recently, he recalled famous verses of 13th Century Persian Sufi poet Jalaluddin Rumi and said that:

"You were born with greatness, you were born with wings, you are not meant for crawling, so don’t, you have wings, learn to use them to fly".

How would you achieve greater heights in life? It is only with self confidence and determination.

Self-confidence may be considered as one of the most important and indispensable characteristics for the success of a person. This is a common characteristic shared by many great leaders in the world. Self confidence, and not arrogance, is the key to winning or excelling in no matter what you do in life. I am sure some of you have already gained some confidence from your academic performances or extracurricular activities, but this may not be enough to get through to a successful career. So, how can you cultivate your self confidence? You must decide how to develop yourself intellectually, technically, professionally and of course morally everyday of your life. If you think that now the time has come to stop learning and start working, I am sorry to say you are sadly mistaken. Dear Graduates, never think that getting a degree from a University is the end of the learning process. Especially in the twenty first century that we are in right now, knowledge is evolving so rapidly that most of what you learnt in your degree will be outdated in a few years’ time. As Doug Marlett, famous US cartoonist once said, "We are all children at various stages of growing up". I believe that the educational experience in the University has given you a sound foundation to be a self learner. We all need to learn something every day in our life if we are to be successful. ‘Lifelong learning’ is more relevant now than it was ever before. If you do not keep abreast of the new knowledge in your area of work, you will soon be outdated, and it will be difficult to face the challenges confidently.

Another way to build your confidence is to seek out the toughest jobs – for example the jobs with the most daunting scientific or medical challenges, and do them well. In the competitive world the employers want talented people who are willing to take on situations where the tasks are difficult or where there is intense competition. You need to have the self confidence to do difficult things, rather than doing routine work. As graduates, you need to define your value. In the competitive world, the value of time has become a critical factor. As they say, "You should not sacrifice all your time to save a dollar, but spend any amount of dollars to save a minute". Those who have been able to save time for themselves and to their organizations have been very successful in life.

Determination is another key ingredient for success. This, I am sure, is nothing new to the Buddhists among us, Uttana Veeryaya being the first in the set of characteristics for success in life according to Lord Buddha’s teachings. History reveals that underdogs too can be winners if you are united, determined and work as a team. We can learn many lessons from our cricket team as well. For example, most of you would remember that none of us even dared to dream that we could win the Cricket World Cup before 1996. However, being the underdogs did not prevent our team from performing marvelously and winning the World Cup in 1996, against all odds.

(Tomorrow: Underdogs have won wars)

GMOA wants free fuel or allowance hike

February 22, 2012, 10:39 pm , The Island.

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The Government Medical Officers’ Association yesterday demanded that their members be granted 120 litres of fuel a month as a substitute for the transport allowance and Rs.8,000 as Disturbance and Availability allowance.

If the government did not want to grant 120 litres of fuel free of charge, the GMOA would ask the government to provide Rs. 29,000 as Disturbance, Availability and Transport Allowances. In 2008 President Mahinda Rajapaksa had agreed to pay Rs. 29,000, but that promise had been broken, GMOA General Secretary Dr. Chandika Epitakaduwa told a Media Conference at the GMOA head office yesterday (22).

He said that all doctors had a sense of responsibility and dedication to save the lives of patients. But if they could not find suitable residences near hospitals, they had to come to hospital from distant places. Although the duty hours of a doctor was from 8.00 a.m. to 4.00 p.m., he or she was supposed to look after patients under his or her care.

He pointed out that when the hospital called doctors to attend on patients, those, doctors who had vehicles had to spend their own money to come to hospitals. Those who did not have vehicles had to come to hospitals by public transport. On some occasions hospital ambulances were sent to bring doctors. It was a time-consuming task, because the ambulance driver had to get approvals from several officials.

Dr. Epitakaduwa added that at present Rs. 15,000 was being paid as Disturbance, Availability and Transport Allowance which was not enough to meet the escalating fuel prices. The GMOA would ask the government to expedite granting of 120 litres of fuel a month free of charge along with Rs.8000 or give Rs. 29,000 as Disturbance, Availability and Transport Allowance.

UCG to put protesting Uni staff on no pay

Non- Academics to go ahead with 48-hour strike

February 22, 2012, 10:03 pm , The Island

By Dasun Edirisinghe

The University Grants Commission yesterday said it would act according to the government circular No. 890 which ordered that those who neglect their duties and participate in protests be put on no pay on such days.

The University non-academic staff has decided to stage a token strike today and tomorrow in protest against the government’s delay to rectify the anomalies in their salaries, as promised earlier.

UGC Chairman Prof. Gamini Samaranayake told The Island that they had to work according  to the government circular.

He said that university non-academics went to Court against that circular in 2007 but the Court dismissed their application.

However, the university non–academic staff, including administrative officers have decided to stage a 48-hour token strike.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) R. Chandrapala said that they would go ahead with the earlier planned strike as they informed it to the officials of the Higher Education Ministry and the UGC.

He said that the National Salaries and Cadre Commission cheated them two weeks ago, but this time they would not give up their agitation until the demands were met.

Chandrapala said that all successive governments, after 2006, had failed to honour the pledges made to non-academics and the problem had worsened now.

Student monks in sathyagraha outside UGC

February 21, 2012, 9:45 pm , The Island.

by Dasun Edirisinghe

Student monks, from the Buddhist and Pali University, yesterday commenced an indefinite Sathyagraha opposite University Grants Commission (UGC) and the Higher Education Ministry at Ward Place after failing in their attempt to enter the premises demanding a discussion.

Bhikkhu undergraduates marched to the UGC from the University of Sri Jayewardenepura at around 10.00 a.m. against the government’s alleged move to close down the Buddhist and Pali University.

As ministry officials refused an unscheduled discussion, they waited there for five hours before starting the Sathyagraha, forcing traffic along Ward Place, between Borella and Town Hall, to be held up for about two hours. The traffic congestion extended to surrounding areas too.

President of the Students Council of the University, Ven. Panama Ananda Thera said that the university administration had yet to enroll the new batch which included around 100 Buddhist monks.

According to him, every year the Higher Education Ministry enrolled the new batch in January but this year’s batch had yet to be enrolled even at the end of February.

"The government is going to close down the university without recruiting students," Ananada thera said adding they would protest against it.

He said that the university administration suspended 30 of their colleagues when they protested against the ministry’s delay in enrolling the new batch of students.

The ministry did not even announce a date to enroll the new batch, the student monk said.

Secretary to the Higher Education Ministry Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne said that interviews to enroll the new batch were being held at present.

He denied the student monks’ claim that the government was attempting to close down the university.

Docs want govt. to change school admission circular

February 21, 2012, 12:00 pm , The Island.

By Don Asoka Wijewardena

The Government Medical Officers’ Association yesterday asked the government to change the contents of the Circular, issued by the Education Ministry, on admission of doctors’ children to national schools.

The current circular had stipulated that any person wishing to admit children should be a resident of a particular area for five years. As a result, when annual transfers were made by the Health Ministry, they were driven from pillar to post by officials in the Education Ministry, GMOA President Dr. Padeniya told a media conference at the GMOA head office in Colombo.

Dr. Padeniya claimed that around 220 school-going children of doctors and consultants were idling at home for want of national schools to continue their education. Although some doctors had officially received annual transfers they were unable to get their children admitted to national schools in the respective area.

He said that though most school principals had expressed their willingness to enroll doctors’ children , the Education Ministry, especially the Secretary to the Ministry, had refused to issue relevant letters to principals. This tug-o-war had deprived the children from pursuing their education.

A few months ago Health Minister Maithripala Sirisena had visited the Education Ministry and handed over a file with list of names of doctors’ children to be given schools as the doctors had been transferred. But Minister Sirisena’s intervention to resolve the schooling problem of doctors’ children had fallen on deaf years. Unlike Ranaviru families, only 150 to 200 children of doctor had to be accommodated in national schools, Dr. Padeniya stressed.

The GMOA President said that in 2005, the Cabinet approved the provision of schools for doctors’ children to retain their services in the country. Ministers had realized the importance of schooling of doctors’ children and had made all arrangements to admit doctors’ children to the nearest national schools when annual transfers were made.

J'Pura protesters on Nugegoda fly over

Some 300 monks from the Student's Union of the Buddhist and Pali University are currently on a protest march in Nugegoda. The march began at the Sri Jayawardena University and will proceed to the University Grants Commission in Colombo.  A convener for the Student's Union said they were marching in protest against the authorities’ failure to address the issues in the university education system in the country.  “They have failed to hear us and address our problems. The freedom of students is gradually diminishing. If they won't hear our calls for support, then we shall continue to protest,” he said. (Olindhi Jayasundera)

Uni. non–academics threaten all–out strike

Will begin with token strike on Thursday, Friday

February 20, 2012, 10:36 pm , The Island.

by Dasun Edirisinghe

University non – academic staff, including administrative officers, will stage a 48-hour token strike on Feb. 23 and 24 against the government’s delay to rectify the anomalies in their salaries, as promised earlier.

President of the Inter University Trade Union Federation (IUTUF) R. Chandrapala told The Island last night that if the government does not respond to it, they would go for an all – out strike from Feb. 29.

"We met officers from the National Salaries and Cadre Commission two weeks ago and they promised to give their recommendations within two weeks to the University Grants Commission (UGC)," he said adding that as usual the NSCC had broken the promise.

Chandrapala said that all successive governments, after 2006, had failed to honour the pledges made to non-academics and the problem had worsened now.

"All staff, from registrars to labourers, would join the strike scheduled for Thursday and Friday," he said adding they would show their strength to the government and that universities couldn’t be run without their support.

The trade unionist said that Higher Education Minister S. B. Dissanayake and Ministry Secretary Dr. Sunil Jayantha Navaratne had promised to rectify their salary anomalies during several meetings recently, but so far they had not honoured their promise.

Chandrapala said that this time they would not give up their agitation and would cripple the universities until their demands were met.

Who’s teaching the teachers?

February 19, 2012, 7:41 pm , The Island.


By Douglas King

The 22nd annual Jayasuriya Memorial Lecture this year was presented by Narada Warnasuriya, former Vice Chancellor University of Sri Jayawardenapura. His topic, ‘Some reflections on Pre-school Education in Sri Lanka’ was far reaching as this essential component in education has not received the attention that it deserves. "The years from 3-5 are especially important for the achievement of key milestones in language acquisition, socialization and personality development." The National Survey of Child Development (2010) estimated that there were over 12,353 preschools with over half a million children. Three northern district were not included and it is likely that a number of schools were not registered for various reasons. Allowing for 15,000 schools and an average of three teachers at each school, this might indicate around 40-50 thousand teachers working in these centres. No accurate figures can be given as to the qualifications or experience of these teachers, but it can be assumed that a large number have no training or very minimum qualifications. Allowing for an attrition rate of only 5% would imply that at least 2000 new teachers are required each year. Where are these new teachers coming from?

In the main urban centres there are many private colleges offering courses and qualifications in Early Childhood Education. The majority of these are part time requiring attendance only for 1 or 2 days at weekends over a period ranging from 3 months to one year. This enables employed teachers to pursue a qualification, as well as giving teacher/lecturers from other institutions extra income through weekend work. Students completing these courses receive diplomas, but as to the quality of study and achievement there is little or no regulation. Failures are minimal and many such courses are financially very advantageous for the institutions which are essentially businesses. Another popular way to achieve a qualification is through the network of Montessori schools affiliated to the recognised Australian, British or American Montessori institutes. To obtain the qualification students usually work as assistant teachers while at the same time studying the formal aspects of Montessori education. This arrangement gives the school not only free teachers, but also a considerable income from the "course" fees. Only a minority of pre-schools in the country follow strict Montessori guidelines, so many of the graduates of these courses do not possess the broader and more useful Early Childhood Education content. No reliable figures are available as to the number of courses or students attending these courses.

Early Childhood Education

By far the largest and most recognized Early Childhood Education courses are conducted by the Open University of Sri Lanka (OUSL) where well over 2000 students are registered for one of the three certificate or diploma courses offered. However, the completion rate for these courses is often less than 50%, either due to some mature students taking the courses purely out of interest and others who find the independent distant learning too difficult. The OUSL is to be commended for conducting these courses and giving many students and teachers an opportunity to receive official qualifications through the convenience of distance study at a very affordable fee. Education is a high priority for President Mahinda Rajapaksa in his vision of Sri Lanka becoming the "Educational Hub" of South Asia. In January 2010 the University Grants Commission initiated a "Subject Review Report" on the OUSL Department of Early Childhood Education. The full report was made available on the Internet. The review team comprised three professors from other universities and was "based on the Self Evaluation Report (SER) submitted by the Department of Early Childhood and Primary Education (ECPE) and supported by the information gathered from the three-day site visit made to the department".

Early Childhood Education is a highly specialized area and those holding academic qualifications in primary, secondary and tertiary education in general do not possess the "skills, attitude and knowledge" necessary to teach in preschools or to direct and participate in the training of such teachers. This is not to belittle their expertise but to question their suitability for imparting education for the 3-5 years age group. An effective pre-school teacher in the main does not teach but provides multifarious experiences whereby the child can be involved in opportunities for intellectual, aesthetic, social and physical activities according to maturational levels. In this respect the teacher is imparting knowledge and skills only indirectly. Music, drama, literacy, numeracy, art, craft, physical education, dance, religion, social skills, assessment, health and parental involvement are all part of the necessary skills and application needed for quality preschool teaching. If it is to be expected that qualified teachers have these important skills, then surely those that are to teach students must also be similarly equipped. Theoretical expertise can only be useful when applied to practice. It may be that "one gram of experience is worth one kilogram of theory".

The Subject Review Report referred to earlier is an interesting document and the three authoritative professors have made an important contribution to the content and value of the OUSL courses and recommendations for improvements. Part of their review relied on the Self Evaluation Report (SER) but however sincere this may have been, the limited professional staffing and self-interest does militate against some aspects of being objective. In addition, three days on-site assessment of the three main Centres, can only offer a superficial overview especially when conducted by distinguished academics but without deeper understanding of Early Childhood Education. "The administrative Head of Early Childhood and Primary Education has a doctoral degree and considerable experience as a senior member of the faculty in the Department of Secondary and Tertiary Education prior to her present appointment". Apart from her current responsibilities she also "supervises M Ed, M Phil and Ph D students in other departments of the faculty." No staff members conduct research related to the Early Childhood Education Department. Despite her considerable hard work, commitment and efforts to develop the three courses, three model schools and quality of instruction, this has to a great extent been delegated to other staff members. According to the report "the bulk of the academic work…..writing and moderating lessons, teaching in day schools, setting and marking of assignments, and observation of teaching practice is the responsibility of the senior lecturer and three probationary lecturers". Each of these staff members coordinates a programme, but it is questionable if they are qualified or experienced in Early Childhood Education . Three other project assistants without postgraduate qualifications in fields relevant to the Department hold temporary, short-term appointments.

Recommendations

Ideally the three pre-schools operated by the Department should be models of good practice as examples for students to visit and learn from. The Report is critical of the main Supipi preschool. "Its claim to be a teaching laboratory appears to lack credence…" The Resource room is not functioning and the outdoor play equipment is inadequate. As to the school itself it is essential that the classrooms, curriculum and materials are representative of a high standard of practice. Some while back the Department initiated a full week of in-service workshops for teachers of the model schools and other staff members to improve their understanding and skills in Early Childhood Education. These were conducted by a highly experienced and qualified professional from the UK and were considered successful in upgrading knowledge and application. The Subject Review Report reviewed eight aspects of the Department and the courses it offered. The key areas of Curriculum; Teaching, learning, assessment; Student progress and achievement, were rated as only "satisfactory" rather than good or excellent. The Report made 16 recommendations for improvement and if these are acted upon the benefits eventually will be felt by preschools and the children where students on these courses will be teaching.

In the conclusion of his lecture Narada Warnasuriya suggested "the creation of a well equipped National Centre for Pre-school Education with a network of regional centres". At present there are no regular publications in Sri Lanka for pre-school teachers.

This Centre could produce a monthly Early Childhood Magazine in three languages to enable teachers to gain ideas and keep in touch with developments in this field. A well equipped resource centre where commercial materials can be displayed as well as workshop and lecture rooms offering relevant seminars and short courses.

It is surprising that the Early Childhood Education department at the OUSL has not produced a range of DVD multi-media resources which could include lectures (in three languages) as well as videos showing diverse preschool activities and various teaching styles. These can be linked to theory thus making it more relevant. A single recordable DVD costs less than Rs 20 and producing them no longer requires professionals with expensive equipment. (See www.youtube.com/5education) With so many teachers now having access to the Internet, it seems a simple and obvious way for some meaningful distant learning to take place. The temporary curriculum books for students on OUSL courses are produced in-house and pages simply stapled together between flimsy covers. The content may be relevant (albeit there are some grammatical, spelling, and other errors), but the design, printing and lack of illustrations contributes to their unattractiveness. Compare these with the beautifully designed materials in Singapore and other countries, which engages you and encourages you to read and study.

ECE neglected

Is it reasonable to expect that Early Childhood Education courses for duration of one year or less with only a minimum of face-to-face contact, can equip a teacher with the knowledge, attitude and skills required? Many of these courses necessitate a considerable amount of self-study and unguided superficial reading of texts. Many courses are English medium and it is doubtful if some of the students have a sufficiently high standard of English to readily understand either the lectures or reading material. With only limited contact time, the opportunities for discussion, questions and practical application are severely limited. This is also exacerbated by poor conversational skills in English. At present no university or institution offers degree level courses in Early Childhood Education, despite it being a major aspect of the education system involving over 500,000 children. The University of Peradeniya has a well established Education Faculty but no courses in Early Childhood Education despite the fact that a large pre-school on the campus can be seen from the department’s building. The neglected poor state of the play area may reflect further shortcomings. In contrast Singapore has several universities where Early Childhood Education can be studied to Doctoral level and model preschools for students to experience. In many developed countries it is a requirement that senior teachers at preschool centres have a minimum of an undergraduate degree and often a graduate degree.

All too often preschools are seen as places where children cut, colour and paste, learn the alphabet and sing some nursery rhymes. Parents and even some professionals see a group of smiling, busy children filling pages in workbooks or all producing an identical item of art or craft, partly made by teachers, as being the observable sign of a good preschool. Many are willing to pay high admission and monthly fees for such schools. Unfortunately, even well qualified preschool teachers are poorly paid compared to salaries in government schools. Until this belief changes there is little incentive for schools or teachers to reflect on or be critical of current practice.

As there is no single authority for Early Childhood Education and schools are a mixture of private, NGO, religious and local government initiatives, it is difficult to see how change can come about. It requires leadership, creative thinking and innovation. Prof. J.E. Jayasuriya’s concerns as Chairman of the National Education Commission fifty years ago, about the quality and availability of pre-schools did not lead to action. Fifty years later the same issues are being discussed and his views seem to have currency in both theory and practice.

_________________________

The author is currently honorary Education Director of the Early Childhood Education Centre at Hampstead International School, Kandy. This model Centre for around 80 children from all sections of the community, is visited by many teachers to gain a better insight into good practice. Douglas King D.Ed has many years of teaching, lecturing and consulting in Early Childhood Education in several developed and developing countries. He has written extensively on Education and published books for use in pre-school.

Appeal for bail by parents of remanded undergrads

The parents of the three undergraduates who were remanded by the Kandy Chief Magistrate under the anti-ragging Act, have filed three bail applications to Kandy High Court Judge Manilal Waidyatilleke who has now issued notice on the Criminal Investigation Department. Atorney-at-Law Sudath Karavita who submitted the application for bail on behalf of the parents said that the three undergraduates were three out of twenty five undergraduates who were charged before the Kandy Chief Magistrate's Court under the anti-ragging act. He submitted to Court that twenty two undergraduates are out on bail and only three of the undergraduates were remanded by the Magistrate. He also submitted to Court that after the undergraduates were remanded, the Magistrate has no provision to bail these remanded undergraduates and therefore the parents are seeking the indulgence of the Court to grant bail, since they are now nearly a month in remand. Atorrney Karavita also submitted that Peradeniya Police who initially investigated the incident had selected only seven undergraduates be summoned to Court, but after the Criminal Investigation Department took over the investigations, twenty five were produced before Court. He also submitted to Court that the alleged charges that they had unnatural sexual offences committed on fresher undergraduates, were made after one month after the alleged incident. After these submissions by the Attorney, the High Court Judge ordered the issue of notices on the respondents. The parents of the three undergraduates who made the bail application were in Court. The case was postponed for March 13.