Mobile ban in colleges soon?

Jul 06, 2013 |

Age Correspondent

mumbai

The office of the joint director of higher and technical education has issued a circular to all the universities in the state asking them to get feedback from principals of affiliated colleges, on its plans to install jammers and signal decoders to prohibit cellphone use in colleges.
The letter has been issued after repeated requests from an NCP youth leader from Aurangabad, Ashok Lad, to ban the use of cellphones on college campuses. Mr Lad claimed that the increased use of cameras and other new technologies available on cellphones can lead to an increase in cyber crime and hence, installing jammers would deter students from resorting to such acts.
Speaking about the issue, Mr Lad said that students use cellphones to circulate vulgar messages, pictures and videos. “Some students click pictures and videos of their classmates and friends and use it to blackmail them. To curb all this, I have sent a suggestion to the higher and technical education department to install cellphone jammers in the campus,” Mr Lad said.
Dr Manjusha Molawane, joint director, higher and technical education department said that the circular sent to the universities was based on instructions from state minister Rajesh Tope’s office. “We were asked to get feedback from the colleges and hence, sent the letter to the universities. The department is not propounding any such idea. However, if there is a delay in getting feedback, we may ask the universities to send reminders to colleges and collect the same as soon as possible,” said Dr Molawane.
The University of Mumbai has already issued a circular to all its affiliated colleges across the state, including engineering, management, pharmacy, home science and social work on June 25, seeking their opinion on the proposal to install cellphone signal jammers. The University officials have been directed to take the opinions and form a report on the pros and cons of installing jammers in the campus, Dr M.A. Khan, registrar of MU confirmed. Prof. Kumud-havalli Sarangpani, registrar of SNDT Women’s University denied receiving any such letter.
When contacted, Mr Tope said that the ministry was only getting feedback from the colleges and not implementing any plan.

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