IIT-Bombay imposes Rs 10,000 fine on students who protested against ‘veg-only’ space

The mess council meeting with wardens and associate wardens of the respective hostels was held to discuss the complaints about unruly behaviour and flouting of mess rules by a few students during dinner on September 28, a day after the declaration of designated ‘veg-only’ space by the mess council of these three hostels which share a combined mess.

A day before, the mess council of hostel 12, 13 and 14 had sent an email to all its residents informing about designated veg-only space in their combined mess. The email, announcing the designation of 6 tables where only veg-food will be taken by anyone, had sparked a controversy. While the mess council in the email stated that it is to “create a more inclusive and peaceful dining experience for all,” according to some students at the campus, this official segregation was unnecessary and was the opposite of inclusive approach.

Few students had protested a day after on Thursday during dinner by what they called a way of civil disobedience. They ate non-vegetarian food at one of the six tables designated for veg-only food which had caused unrest in the mess.

As per the minutes of the meeting, shared by the Ambedkar Periyar Phule Study Circle (APPSC), an informal students’ collective from campus, on its social media handle, a fine is imposed on one of the protesting students for now.

It was unanimously agreed that behaviour of this student was “contrary to the inclusive and peaceful atmosphere at Hostel 12, 13 and 14 mess,” added the minutes of the meeting. The fine amount will be deducted from the student’s Semester Mess Advance which is paid at the beginning of the semester.

The minutes of the meeting further added that at least two other individuals were involved, whose identities are yet to be ascertained.

“The mess council resolved to enlist the support of student representatives from the hostel 12, 13 and 14 councils to assist in identifying the other two individuals involved in the incident. Once their identities are established, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken against them as well,” it read.

The APPSC, which had initially raised voice against the announcement of the mess council of the mentioned hostels and had supported the students’ protest, tweeted, “We condemn the tyrannical decision of the admin and urge to reverse the regressive policy immediately.”

The institute administration did not respond to the queries.