Jaipur: Rajasthan University (RU) students Saturday burnt an effigy of vice-chancellor Alpana Kateja on campus, protesting alleged irregularities in the PhD admission process and demanding that 174 vacant seats be filled.The protest followed an unsuccessful meeting between students and the university administration. Students demanded cancellation of admissions allegedly made in violation of the approved seat matrix and filling of vacant seats.During the meeting, Kateja assured students that admissions found irregular in economics, psychology and other departments would be cancelled after verification. She also said the university would ascertain the exact number of vacant seats and readvertise them, including seats for JRF-qualified candidates, in accordance with directions of the college education department.Students said the administration was expected to begin the readvertisement process Monday.Post-doctoral fellow Sajjan Saini said students had lost faith in the administration, alleging violations of rules, Syndicate decisions and Raj Bhavan directions.“Injustice was done to students and rules, Syndicate decisions and Raj Bhavan directions were violated. How can we trust that the seats will actually be readvertised on Monday?” he said.Students also alleged that Rajasthan University PhD admission convener Prof S K Gupta had resigned. The claim could not be independently verified.
