Following a tragic road accident in Jalukbari where seven students of Assam Engineering College lost their lives, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, on Thursday directed the Education Department to institute a high-level inquiry committee to investigate the circumstances leading to the accident and the students’ subsequent deaths.
The Principal of AEC, Jalukbari and the Superintendent of the hospital the students were admitted in have been asked to go on leave until the inquiry is completed and the government examines the committee’s report.
Additionally, the Chief Minister has asked the Education Department to constitute a committee to look into the present system of elections in colleges and universities and draft a report on the need for a system review in the wake of frequent clashes during the both the pre-and post-election period in the student community.
To prevent the occurrence of any more potential life-threatening incidents, Chief Minister Sarma has also asked the Education Department to constitute a committee to reinforce discipline, rules, and regulations in hostels of educational institutions in the state.
“The committee will also look into strict enforcement of in and out the time of hostels, and the complete prohibition of alcohol etc. in hostel campuses and hostels and prohibition of an extended stay of ex-boarders of hostels,” the CM announced. He also said that the committee is to recommend ways for the promotion of healthy community life within the hostels.