Lucknow— Students of Baba Saheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar University (BBAU) have been facing difficulties due to the closure of the university's computer lab and library since the outbreak of the pandemic in 2020. This has particularly impacted students from underprivileged backgrounds who are studying legal studies at the university, which is named after Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the father of the Indian Constitutio. Ambedkar acquired a strong foundation in law. However, it is ironic that the Law department of a university dedicated to his name, has closed its computer lab and library, hindering students from disadvantaged backgrounds from studying law.

High fees but poor facilities

Gaurav Verma, an 8th-semester LLB student, told The Mooknayak, "I enrolled in the LLB course at the School of Legal Studies in 2019 and have only accessed the library once. When the Covid-19 pandemic broke out in March 2020, all libraries and computer labs were close". Now, it is 2023, and the reason for this closure is reportedly a feud between the Dean and the Head of Department. Verma also mentions that students are paying 1,25,000 rupees as fees, yet in the last semester, there was no faculty and students were unable to attend classes.

Memorandum for protest

The students had also submitted a memorandum, stating that if their demands were not met, they would begin protesting. The Dean walked past them a day ago, but remained indifferent and unresponsive to their plight, despite their sitting in the cold and rain, experiencing hunger and thirst. Verma emphasizes the importance of libraries, noting that students from poor families cannot afford to buy laptops, and books are expensive.

In such situations, libraries and computer labs are essential for completing projects and presentations. However, the authorities are not moved by this fact, and the Head of Department has even discouraged them. One guest faculty even threatened one of the protestors, saying, "I have taken you on the radar," and that if something happens to them, Shailesh Mishra and the Head of the Department will be held responsible."

Warn to resume protest if demands not met

Despite the existence of a central library on campus, students have reported difficulties in accessing computer systems due to overcrowding. After a late-night assurance from a delegation consisting of the Registrar, Head of the Department, Dean, and Dean of Students Welfare, students have called off their protest. However, they have warned that if the university does not fulfill its promises, they will be compelled to resume their demonstration. When The Mooknayak reached out to the Head of Department, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Chadha, he stated, "The libraries were always open and the protesting students were only demanding a separate library for legal studies."