Phone No.: 7795150647 |
Email ID: legalaid@sjcl.edu.in
Student Support
A Fair Voice for Every Student
St. Joseph's College of Law is committed to a safe, inclusive, respectful and supportive academic environment in which every student is treated with dignity, fairness and respect. The College recognises that students may, from time to time, have concerns relating to teaching and learning, examinations and evaluation, attendance, academic administration, student services, infrastructure, scholarships, student activities or their interactions with members of the College community.
The Student Grievance Redressal Policy provides students with an accessible, transparent, fair and time-bound mechanism for raising and resolving genuine concerns. It is framed with reference to the University Grants Commission (Redressal of Grievances of Students) Regulations, 2023, and is read together with the applicable rules of the UGC, Karnataka State Law University and the Bar Council of India.
UGC Regulations, 2023
Karnataka State Law University
Bar Council of India
Our Commitment
Objectives
01
To provide students with an accessible and responsive mechanism for raising genuine concerns and grievances.
02
To facilitate fair, transparent and timely resolution of student grievances.
03
To encourage constructive communication and resolution of concerns at the appropriate level wherever reasonably possible.
04
To ensure that students are given a fair opportunity to be heard and that grievances are considered objectively and without discrimination, victimisation or retaliation.
05
To promote institutional accountability and identify areas requiring corrective or preventive action.
What is a Grievance?
A grievance is a complaint or concern raised by a student about an action, omission, decision, procedure, treatment or condition which the student believes to be unfair, unreasonable, discriminatory, improper or contrary to applicable rules, regulations, policies or legitimate expectations. The Policy applies to all students of the College across undergraduate, postgraduate, certificate and other programmes.
Scope
Matters that May be Raised
Academic Matters
- Teaching and learning related concerns
- Internal assessment and evaluation procedures
- Academic facilities, learning resources, library and academic support
- Non-transparent or unfair academic practices
- Delay or failure in providing academic services promised by the College
Student Activities and Campus Life
- Student clubs, sports and cultural activities
- Co-curricular and extracurricular opportunities
- Student participation and access to institutional activities
- Internships, placements or career-related services, where applicable
- Governance of Student Council activities
Discrimination, Harassment and Victimisation
Students may raise concerns relating to discrimination, unfair treatment, victimisation or harassment. Particular attention is given to complaints alleging discrimination against students belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, women, minorities or persons with disabilities. Matters falling within a specialised statutory mechanism, such as the Internal Complaints Committee, Anti-Ragging Committee or Equal Opportunity Cell, are dealt with under the applicable procedure.
Step One
First Level Resolution
Wherever appropriate, students are encouraged to first raise their concern, orally or in writing, with the person or office directly responsible.
The concerned faculty member
Subject or course coordinator
Class mentor
Committee or activity coordinator
Administrative office
This first step is not mandatory. Students may approach the Student Grievance Redressal Cell directly and shall not be discouraged, prevented or penalised for doing so.
Who to Contact
Student Grievance Redressal Cell
The College maintains a Student Grievance Redressal Mechanism and constitutes the formal Students' Grievance Redressal Committee (SGRC) in accordance with the UGC Regulations. For day-to-day facilitation of student grievances, the following faculty members are the designated members of the Cell:
The designated faculty members receive and acknowledge student concerns, give students an opportunity to explain them, help identify the appropriate forum, facilitate communication with the concerned faculty member, committee or office, maintain records and follow up on action taken.
Reach Out
How to Raise a Grievance
By Email
The email should explain:
- The nature of the grievance;
- The relevant date or dates, if applicable;
- The person, office, process or decision concerned;
- The steps already taken to resolve the matter, if any;
- The response received, if any; and
- The resolution or assistance sought.
Students are encouraged to attach supporting documents or communications where appropriate.
In Person
Students may meet Ms. Akshatha Niranjana or Mr. Bhaskar Simha L N to explain or record their concern.
A student who raises a concern orally may later be asked for a written statement where a formal inquiry or record is necessary.
Reasonable assistance is available to any student who needs help recording or submitting a grievance.
What Happens Next
Process and Time Frame
Acknowledge
The Cell acknowledges the grievanceUnderstand
Ascertains the nature of the concernDetermine
Resolve at the concerned level or refer to the right committeeGather
Seeks information or documents where necessaryResolve
Facilitates resolution, with the student's consentOn receiving a grievance, the Cell acknowledges it, ascertains the nature of the concern, determines whether it can be resolved through clarification at the concerned level or whether it falls within another committee's jurisdiction, and seeks information or documents where necessary. Where appropriate, and with the student's knowledge and consent, the Cell may facilitate resolution without formal proceedings.
The College endeavours to resolve grievances as expeditiously as possible. Matters formally placed before the SGRC follow the time limits prescribed by the UGC Regulations. Where a grievance is referred to another committee or statutory authority, the student is informed of the referral and the further process wherever practicable.
Resolution
Outcome
At the conclusion of the process, the student is informed of the outcome or action taken, subject to confidentiality, privacy and applicable law. Outcomes may include:
Clarification of a rule or decision
Correction of an administrative error
Remedial action
Referral to the competent authority
Recommendations for institutional improvement
Restoration of a legitimate student entitlement
Special Cases
Matters Requiring Specialised Procedures
Complaints of sexual harassment, ragging, disciplinary matters, criminal offences and other matters assigned by law to another authority are dealt with or referred under the applicable framework. A student approaching the Cell will not be left without guidance merely because the matter falls within another mechanism; the Cell will help the student identify and access the appropriate forum.
Please Note
Exclusions
The SGRC does not ordinarily entertain:
Anonymous complaints where the complainant's identity is essential for examining the matter;
Complaints that are manifestly frivolous or malicious;
Matters that do not concern the student or the College;
Matters pending before a court, tribunal or statutory authority, where SGRC consideration would conflict with those proceedings;
Matters falling exclusively within another statutory committee's jurisdiction, except to help the student access that mechanism; and
Challenges to academic or administrative decisions merely because a student disagrees with the outcome, where no procedural irregularity, discrimination or other recognised grievance is alleged.
Confidentiality and Records
The Cell and the SGRC maintain records of grievances received and action taken, securely and with due regard to confidentiality and applicable data protection requirements. Students are protected from discrimination, victimisation or retaliation for raising a grievance.
Responsibilities of Students
Students are encouraged to raise concerns promptly and responsibly, provide accurate information, communicate respectfully, make reasonable efforts to clarify concerns at the appropriate level where it is safe to do so, provide supporting information and cooperate with the process. None of these responsibilities limits a student's right to approach the Cell directly.
Have a concern? We're here to listen.
Write to the Student Grievance Redressal Cell or meet a designated faculty member.