University must allow Vittala to write exams, rules Puttur court

University must allow Vittala to write exams, rules Puttur court

Mangalore Today News Network

Puttur, May 20, 2012: The Puttur Fast Track Court ruled on Saturday that the Mangalore Jail must make all the required arrangements for Vittala Malekudiya, student of journalism and mass communication at Mangalore University, who was arrested by the Anti Naxal Force (ANF) for alleged association with Naxals, to answer his second semester exams at Mangalore University from May 21 – 25. 

Although the Belthangady JMFC refused to permit Vittala to answer his exams as the vice chancellor of the Mangalore University had stated that Vittala had attendance shortage, the Puttur Fast Track Court ordered jail authorities to make arrangements for him to answer his exams. 

Dinesh Hegde Ulepady, the legal representative for Vittala, had argued that Vittala must be allowed to answer his exams on grounds of humanity. He had also pointed out that the university has the power to grant permission to students with attendance shortage to write their exams, provided the student could not attend classes because of genuine reasons. 

Ulepady said that Vittala had 80 percent attendance before his arrest, which shows that he did not miss his classes habitually. He expressed hopes that the court order will convince the university to allow him to write his exams, adding that he will continue to fight the case if the university does not oblige. 

Meanwhile, T. C. Shivashankar Murthy, the vice chancellor of Mangalore University, said that he did not know about the Puttur Fast Track Court ruling, adding that the university can change its decision only when it receives the court order.