Kolkata, July 3 (UNI) The Calcutta High Court today directed the West Bengal government's higher

education department to issue an official notice with direction to shut all student union rooms in colleges and universities across the state until the student elections are held.

The Calcutta high court's double bench comprising Justices Somen Sen and Smita Das passed this judement to this effect.

The judicial directive was passed after one Sayan Banerjee filed a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) seeking a court order on the issue after a girl student of a law college was allegedly gang raped by a fomer student and two other students. The accused former student was very influencial as he was a student leader. The incedent took place in on June 25.

The student elections were last held in 2017.

The court also ordered the state to submit an affidavit within two weeks. The next hearing on this metter is on July 17.

The court directed that the student union rooms should be locked and cannot be used for any kind of recreational

activities.

"If there is any urgent need, a formal application with valid reasons must be submitted in writing to the

university registrar," the court explained.

UNI PC RKM