Issue of opening girls’ hostels 24X7 at PU under HC scanner

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, December 4

The Punjab and Haryana High Court has put Panjab University (PU) on notice on a petition for prohibiting the varsity from changing the timing of the girls’ hostels in contravention of the handbook of hostel rules.

The Bench of Chief Justice Krishna Murari and Justice Arun Palli also fixed December11 as the next date of hearing in the case. 

An advocate by profession, the petitioner submitted that he was approaching the High Court to bring to its notice the dilemma of the common man/parents created by some political groups in the university to achieve their political goals at the cost of girl hostellers.

Claiming that he had no personal interest in the subject matter of the public interest litigation, the petitioner added that his only concern was to protect the security and safety of the girl students residing on the campus.

Going into the background of the matter, the petitioner said there were 12 girls’ hostels on the Panjab University campus, with capacity to accommodate 3,600 students. The demand for opening the girls’ hostels 24x7 was raised in April by a political group, the Student Organisation of India (SOI). The protest was over with the interference by the Dean Student Welfare (women) and the Dean Student Welfare (men). Thereafter, the handbook of hostel rules was issued in June for the 2018-19 session by not accepting the demand of the SOI.

As such, it was clear that the decision was taken by the DSW and other varsity authorities to not include the Student Council’s demand for opening girl hostels 24X7. 

Again in November, the Panjab University Campus Students Council (PUCSC) raised similar demands, including opening of the girls’ hostels 24X7. Another demand was for reduction of compulsory attendance from present 75 per cent to 50 per cent. 

Referring to a meeting, he said it was crystal clear that permission was being granted to girl students beyond 11 pm at the cost of their own safety and security only with a disclaimer in a register stating that girl students leaving the hostel after 11 pm would be responsible for their safety.

The impugned minutes of the meeting were “absolute illegal, arbitrary, unjust, unfair, without application of mind and not sustainable in the eyes of law. 

“The minutes of the meeting dated November 9 are liable to be set aside on this short account only,” he added.