Archive · 12 Sep 2026
Kolkata Law College Vice-Principal Resigns After Attendance Protest
Students at a law college in Kolkata argued about how much class attendance they needed before taking exams.
College authorities said many students did not have enough attendance.
The students protested and reportedly kept Vice-Principal Muhammadi Tarannum inside the college overnight.
Tarannum said they pressured her to write a resignation letter and did not let her leave.
Students said early class times and incomplete attendance records caused some of their absences.
The governing council president said attendance records had problems and supported a possible relaxation for some students.
Reports differed over whether the required attendance was 65% or 75%.
Police said they stayed outside at first and later entered when Tarannum became ill.
Tarannum’s formal letter cited family and health-related issues, although she publicly said student pressure forced her to resign.
Vice-principal Muhammadi Tarannum said students confined her overnight and forced her to submit a resignation after an attendance dispute.
Students protested after some were barred from semester examinations for allegedly falling below the required attendance threshold.
Accounts differed over the rule: one report cited 75% attendance, while another said the Bar Council of India stipulates 65%.
Students alleged classes were moved from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m. and attendance records were poorly maintained; administrators disputed or acknowledged parts of those claims.
Governing Council president Kaustav Bagchi supported allowing some students to sit for exams, while police said Tarannum was rescued around 2 p.m. Friday.
- Who
- Vice-principal Muhammadi Tarannum, protesting law students, Governing Council president Kaustav Bagchi, college teachers and Muchipara police.
- What
- A dispute over examination eligibility and attendance escalated into an overnight protest and Tarannum’s resignation.
- When
- The protests began on Wednesday; the overnight confinement occurred Thursday night, and Tarannum was reportedly rescued around 2 p.m. Friday.
- Where
- Surendranath Law College in Sealdah, Kolkata.
- Why
- Students challenged being barred from examinations because of attendance shortages and cited early class timings and disputed attendance records.
Students’ Position
College Administration and Governing Council
Attendance requirement
Students’ Position
Students opposed being barred from semester examinations because of attendance shortages and sought permission to take the exams under an undertaking or self-declaration.
College Administration and Governing Council
Tarannum said students who had not attended classes could not simply be allowed to sit for examinations, citing attendance rules.
Attendance records and class timings
Students’ Position
Students said classes had been moved from 8 a.m. to 6 a.m. and that attendance was sometimes recorded through paper chits or WhatsApp rather than a properly maintained roster.
College Administration and Governing Council
Tarannum said attendance had been periodically maintained and called the students’ allegations baseless, while Bagchi said the college had not maintained adequate records and that anomalies needed resolution.
Resignation and overnight protest
Students’ Position
Students shared a video in which Tarannum appeared to say she was resigning willingly, and they disputed the characterization of their protest as coercive.
College Administration and Governing Council
Tarannum said she was confined, denied food and water, subjected to abusive conduct and forced to write the resignation; she later said the video statement was made under pressure.
- College
- Surendranath Law College in Sealdah, Kolkata.
- Attendance dispute
- One report cited a 75% attendance requirement, while another said the Bar Council of India stipulates 65%.
- Student demand
- Students sought permission to sit for examinations despite attendance shortfalls, with some proposals involving undertakings or self-declarations.
- Protest allegation
- Tarannum said students confined her overnight, disconnected electricity and pressured her to resign; students’ role in the alleged coercion was disputed.
- Governing council position
- Kaustav Bagchi said attendance records were not properly maintained and supported allowing some students below the stated threshold to take the exams.
- Resignation letter
- The letter cited unavoidable family and health-related issues, while Tarannum publicly attributed her resignation to student pressure.
- Police account
- Muchipara police said officers remained outside initially and entered around 2 p.m. Friday after Tarannum became ill.
