Principal asked us to carry alcohol on industrial visit: MKES Law College students

Students of Malad Kandivali Education Society (MKES) Law College have alleged that their principal asked them to carry alcohol during their industrial visit to Delhi and Nainital to cope with the cold weather.

According to reports, the students said that their principal Dr. Vandana Dubey had called for a meeting before the visit, during which she allegedly asked them to carry alcoholic drinks as a means of dealing with north India’s severe cold.

“I don’t know if this was supposed to be funny or sarcastic or if she (principal) was actually serious when she said this but her exact words were – ‘you should carry some liquor or alcohol with you because the place is very cold and when consumed, it will protect you from the severe cold’,” a student of the Malad-based college told The Asian Age.

Following the meeting, a group of female students brought the matter to the attention of the institute’s trustees. However, they claim that the trustees endorsed the instructions given by the principal.

Dr. Dubey, however, denied the allegations levelled against her.

“Taking students out is part of the curriculum. No such message was given to them. We had actually asked them to carry woolen clothes, medicines, and other essentials. These are baseless allegations,” she told the daily.

The head of the institution, Dr. Ancy Jose, also came to the principal’s defense. “As far as Ms. Dubey is concerned, she is a very strict and no-nonsense person, so she won’t say any such thing to the students,” she told the daily.

Meanwhile, Students Law Council (SLC) has written to Mumbai University and sought an inquiry into the matter.

“The police can register cases against students if found carrying alcohol. In case this leads to any untoward incident, who will be responsible?” SLC president Sachin Pawar was quoted as saying.