The National Students' Union of India (NSUI), Goa unit along with BA LLB and LLB students, on Monday gheraoed the Goa University Vice Chancellor, demanding a one-time relaxation in the implementation of Ordinance OC-82, which requires students to clear all first and second-year papers before they can be promoted to the third year.
In a memorandum submitted to the Vice Chancellor, NSUI said nearly 60 of the around 180 law students studying in two affiliated colleges are likely to lose an academic year due to pending backlogs under the ordinance. The student body clarified that it was not seeking dilution of academic standards but only a one-time relief, arguing that students had not been adequately informed about the strict enforcement of the rule.
NSUI said that the students were allowed to pay semester fees, attend classes and even appear for examinations without being told that unresolved backlogs would make them ineligible for admission to the third year. It alleged that neither Goa University nor the affiliated colleges conducted awareness programmes, displayed notices or directly informed students about the consequences of the ordinance.
The memorandum also stated that college authorities initially failed to clarify whether the rule applied to the current batch, creating confusion among students. It further noted that similar provisions had not been enforced in previous years, leading students to believe any change would be communicated in advance.
Seeking either a one-time exemption or provisional admission subject to clearing pending papers, NSUI warned of democratic protests if the issue remained unresolved. The Vice Chancellor assured the delegation that he would discuss the matter with principals of the affiliated law colleges and explore a solution.
