Mangaluru: The Kukke Shri Subrahmanyeshwara College in Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada district on Friday suspended two girls studying in 2nd year BBM, allegedly because a picture of them with wine and beer bottles at a tourist spot went viral on WhatsApp.
The college is managed by the KSS Temple Trust and the temple administration comes directly under the control of the state government. Assistant commissioner of Puttur Basavaraju, the trust president, told a daily that the principal decided to suspend the girls.
The girls’ parents said their daughters were not present at any party. The picture has been doing the rounds on WhatsApp in and around Sullia taluk for the past month.
Though the alleged incident took place outside the campus, the college suspended the girls following pressure from a students’ organisation and local people.
“He has informed me about the incident. I’ll go to the college and inquire into the matter and seek a report,” he added. College vice-principal M Manmohan said action has been taken against students as part of the college’s discipline. “The college has received information that the girls’ photoes were circulated on WhatsApp. A students’ organization and local people have demanded action against the girls. The principal suspended the girls and has initiated an inquiry into the issue,” he added.
Social activist Vidya Dinker asked how the college can take disciplinary action against students for an incident that occurred outside the campus. The parents however, have not come forward to file a complaint about the picture on WhatsApp.
“The action of the college authorities is not constitutional. They must take a view which is correct as per the law. It is not right on the college’s part to act against the girls as per the view imposed by certain organizations,” she said.
