3 min readNew DelhiDec 24, 2025 05:23 AM IST
First published on: Dec 24, 2025 at 05:23 AM IST
The Jawaharlal Nehru University Students’ Union (JNUSU) on Tuesday allegedly tore down what it described as a “regressive set of rules”, pasted on the walls of the university’s Narmada Hostel, objecting to restrictions governing visitor access and gender-based segregation in hostel spaces, The Indian Express has learnt. The hostel administration, however, denied that any such notice existed.
The notice, titled “Norms Governing Hostel Life”, laid down a series of conditions regulating residency, visitor access and guest stays, it is learnt. Among the provisions highlighted by students were clauses stating: “No Non-resident visitor shall be permitted to stay in the rooms of the residents after 10.30 p.m.” and “Only men can stay as guests in a men’s hostel and only women can stay as guests in women’s hostel.”
Another clause stated: “Male visitors including male students or guests shall not be allowed in girls/women hostels”, except where permitted by the mess warden in dining halls. The notice also warned of disciplinary action, including eviction, for violations, stating: “If found guilty for the 3rd time he/she will be evicted from the hostel.”
Objecting to the notice, the JNUSU said that such provisions amounted to moral policing and control over students’ personal lives. “JNUSU tore off the regressive set of rules pasted on the walls of Narmada Hostel. This kind of separation and control will not be tolerated in JNU,” the union said in a statement.
The students’ union also alleged intimidation of students who opposed the rules. “JNUSU also wrote to the wardens of Narmada regarding the fact that some students have been threatened for raising voices against these rules,” it said.
Speaking to The Indian Express, JNUSU president Aditi Mishra said the notice was not an isolated development, but part of a longer pattern.
“A hostel manual was introduced several years ago by the administration, which had several restrictions, and was patriarchal. They knew that students would not agree to such rules. Time and again, a few hostels try to impose these rules as most of them now have right wing members who are acting as wardens. That’s what happened in Narmada Hostel,” Mishra said.
She added that the notice had been put up only recently. “The notice was put up two-three days ago and today, the JNUSU went ahead and tore it,” Mishra said.
When contacted by The Indian Express, Narmada Hostel warden Rahul Raj said there was “no such notice.”
The university administration also said it did not receive any formal complaint. Manuradha Chaudhary, Dean of Students’ Welfare, told The Indian Express that she had “received no complaints from any students or the hostel”.
In 2019, the student union had protested against curfews and dress restrictions floated by the administration. The hostel policy introduced back then included fee hike and curfew restrictions.
In 2019, the student union had protested against curfews and dress restrictions floated by the administration. The hostel policy introduced back then included fee hike and curfew restrictions. 
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