RGNUL Patiala protest intensifies even as varsity remains shut; more students air grievances against V-C

The university was shut, until further orders, following university administration order Monday.

On Tuesday, the protesters alleged the university administration had locked washrooms, cafeteria and drinking water facilities. Washrooms and drinking water facilities were opened after they registered a protest, they said. The hostel mess, however, remained functional.

A protest broke out at RGNUL Sunday after V-C conducted an “unannounced inspection” of girls’ hostels, including their rooms. Students also accused the V-C of “passing casual and sexist remarks” on women students time and again, including on their clothes, choice of career, and personal activities, among others.

The V-C denied all charges.

Demanding the V-C’s immediate resignation, the protesting students also lodged a complaint with Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana HC Justice Sheel Nagu, the ex-officio chancellor of the university. A nine-member “special committee” constituted by the registrar had called students for talks Monday but the deadlock continued after the students said they would only talk to the V-C. The students demanded an “open meeting” with V-C.

On Tuesday, university administration again invited students for talks at 5.30 pm but they refused, reiterating their demand to only speak with V-C.

Speaking with The Indian Express, several students said the protest was not just a result of Sunday’s hostel inspection, but “a culmination of many incidents since Dr Singh took over as the V-C in March”.

Another student said the V-C often passes “rude and insensitive remarks on whatever students do. When we lost our four friends in a road accident, he was insensitive and blamed students for partying, saying ‘aur jaiye 9 pm ke baad baahar’.” Students alleged even on Teacher’s Day, the V-C accused women students of wearing “short clothes” even though they were wearing traditional clothes.

Supporting the students, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on X wrote, “Disturbing to read that Patiala’s RGNUL has been shut after students demanded the V-C’s resignation over a surprise girls’ hostel inspection to “check on drinking after midnight”, and a disgraceful pattern of sexist remarks on women. It is startling that the Vice Chancellor of a law university seems completely unaware of his students’ constitutional right to privacy. The government should immediately appoint a commission of enquiry, and the VC should step aside until its findings are released.”