Sunday, September 4 2005 12:34 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Chennai: Parents have welcomed but students are opposed to Anna University's ban on use of mobile phones by teachers and students and enforcement of dress code in engineering college campuses.

But there is unanimity on the ban on holding of film-based cultural programmes in college premises saying most of the film songs are 'vulgar'.

While the students opposed dress code, parents welcomed it saying it would prevent girls and boys from dressing 'shabbily' citing fashion as reason.

The University, which first banned the use of two wheelers and four wheelers inside the university premises arguing that the emission caused by these vehicles had polluted university atmosphere, has banned use of mobile phones from September one.

University Vice Chancellor D Viswanathan said the use of mobile phones had caused distractions to students in classrooms. When somebody's mobile phone rings, it attracts the attention of all the students in a classroom, he said.

The college authorities also noticed students sending SMS among themselves in the classroom, he said.

The University, which controls all engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu and banned the use of camera phones earlier when the infamous MMS sleaze incident at a Delhi public school had rocked the nation, said the ban was necessary for students who were studying highly technical courses.

However, students flayed the ban. K Srinivasan, an IT third-year student, said it 'infringed' on their rights. The ban on use of mobile phones inside the classroom was justifiable, but the ban in the entire college campus was 'unwarranted,' he said.