Students Protest in Panjab University and Rajasthan Central University

Currently, India is witnessing a surge in student protests against unfair hostel norms and gender discrimination. The new wave of agitation is bringing with it a message that is loud and clear that the students need to be treated as responsible adults, and their freedom and expression cannot be restricted in the name of “safety”.

On October 29, women hostellers in Panjab University began protesting against hostel curfew timings for girls. They were led by the Students for Society (SFS), All India Students’ Association (AISA), and the Panjab Students’ Union, Lalkar. Their main demand is that the girls’ hostel gates should remain open round the clock.

The protest, which has entered its 18th day, has seen several girls breaking their hostel gates after 9:30 pm to taking part in the marches being held across the campus. The ‘Gedi route’ – a road near the girls’ hostels at the Panjab University – has changed a lot in the last few days. On this road, where men usually drive luxury cars and play loud Punjabi songs while “checking out” women, hundreds of students have been giving a call for azadi and raising slogans like ‘Death to Patriarchy’ in the middle of the night.

“Every year, the call for freedom reignites, and authorities hand a sugar candy to the students by adjusting a few hours here and there. This year, they’ve extended the curfew by two hours. Meanwhile, organisations like the ABVP, ISA, etc. are derailing the real movement”, said Kanupriya, the first female president of Chandigarh’s Panjab University Campus Student Council (PUCSC). While the authorities were earlier considering meeting their demands, they now have reportedly taken a U-turn.

“The authorities have shamelessly taken a U-turn on their stand, but we will continue to struggle to create a democratic space for all by intensifying our marches and protest, and we will not give in till the gates are open for 24 hours,” she added.

Where, on the one hand, protests are intensifying in Chandigarh, students that took part in a similar protest in Rajasthan Central University have been served rustication notices.

Read more: Protesting Students Stand Firm as Rajasthan Central University Intensifies Crackdown

Ten students – five girls and five boys – were served with these notices late on Friday evening. While five girls have been rusticated from the hostel for one year, four boys have been rusticated for one academic year, and one student has been fined Rs 5000 plus rustication from the hostel.

Prabhanshu, one of the five students who have been rusticated told Newsclick, “The students had taken in writing from the authorities that they would not hamper our academic careers, yet we have received these notices. The boys were asked to leave immediately, while the parents of the girls were informed to take them home by 12 noon the following day.”

The notice states that these students have been found guilty of indiscipline under Central University of Rajasthan Ordinance 47. The notice further states that they are given time up to 5 pm on November 22, for any representation to a competent authority against this decision. “Competent authority is the VC, and the VC is on leave till November 27, and the acting VC says it’s not within his powers to revoke this decision. Our exams start from the 26th of this month. When we are thrown out of the university and the competent authority is on leave, how can we appeal?” asked Prabhanshu.

Fellow students, in solidarity, have resorted to boycotting any events being organised by the university. All the elected members of the students’ union have also resigned and have stated in their resignation letter that they condemn these rustications, and that they will not take back their resignations until the authorities revoke their decision.

Read more: Hostel Curfew: Pinjra Tod Gives October 30 Deadline to Delhi University