A decisive meeting between students and the administration is scheduled to take place at 9 AM tomorrow at the Deputy Commissioner’s (DC) Office, in what is being seen as a crucial step toward resolving the ongoing dispute over the proposed conversion of colleges in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands under a deemed university structure.
According to administrative sources, the meeting has been arranged as a bilateral discussion between student representatives and officials, aimed at addressing concerns surrounding the institutional transition. Authorities have stated that whatever decision emerges from the deliberations will be considered final. The outcome will also be announced publicly and transparently in the presence of the media.
Students, parents, and members of the press are expected to be present during the proceedings, underscoring the significance and public interest surrounding the issue. The administration has emphasized that the platform is intended to ensure open dialogue and clarity on the matter, which has triggered widespread debate within the academic community in recent days.
The development follows continued protests by students who have expressed apprehension over the implications of shifting existing colleges to a deemed university framework. Concerns reportedly range from academic autonomy and degree recognition to administrative restructuring and long-term institutional stability.
Assistant Commissioner Kamaleshwar Rao appealed to student representatives to call off the protest in view of the administration agreeing to hold formal discussions. However, the request was declined by the student body representatives. Students chose instead to continue their protest, maintaining that their agitation would remain peaceful while awaiting concrete assurances and clarity from the authorities.
Despite the refusal to withdraw the protest, student leaders have indicated willingness to engage in dialogue, which has now culminated in the scheduled meeting at the DC Office. The administration’s move to conduct the discussion in an open setting, with media presence, is being viewed as an attempt to ensure transparency and build confidence among stakeholders.
Parents of students have also shown growing involvement, with many closely monitoring the situation due to its potential academic and career impact on their wards. The presence of parents at the meeting signals the widening scope of concern beyond the campus.
With tensions simmering but the protest remaining peaceful, tomorrow’s meeting is widely seen as a turning point. The final decision announced after the discussion could shape the academic landscape of higher education in the Islands in the coming years.
