Food, water supply to hostels cut off, claim students

Protesting students, who stayed put at Chaudhary Charan Singh Haryana Agricultural University (HAU), Hisar, alleged that the university administration denied basic facilities such as food and water to them in the hostels. Today, the students set up a makeshift kitchen at the dharna site to cook their own meals.

The administration, meanwhile, has denied the charges and maintained that the actions taken were part of routine procedures associated with the summer break on the campus.

The protesting students alleged that food and water supply to all hostels was cut off on June 26. They claimed that girls residing in the hostels were locked inside the hostel last night without meals or water. They said one of the girls required an ambulance due to deteriorating health amid severe heat. They also reported that food was not provided in boys' hostels throughout the day.

Today morning, students marched to the Dean of Students' Welfare (DSW) office demanding accountability. They claimed that the library was closed during this period, despite it generally remaining open even on holidays. Later in the day, they staged a rally, banging plates and spoons to highlight their demands.

They also sent a memorandum to the Chief Secretary of Haryana and the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), alleging that the university administration had violated basic human rights by denying them access to food, water, and education facilities.

Dr Rajbir Garg, Director of Research and Chairman of the Student Coordination Committee, stated that the academic session 2024-25 had officially concluded, and vacation of over a month was underway. “As per university policy, hostels are vacated during this time for maintenance and renovation. This is a routine, pre-scheduled process approved in an April 9, 2021, meeting and reflected in the academic calendar and student handbook,” he said.

He clarified that notices to vacate hostels were issued on June 2, before any protests had begun, refuting the claim that the hostel closures were linked to student demonstrations. He added that mess services were also suspended during the summer break since most staff returned to their home states. The closure of the library was attributed to the annual physical verification of resources that required temporary closure.

He said parents entrusted their daughters to the university’s care and that hosting students in vacant hostels without academic activities was neither practical nor secure. He also pointed that certain "unidentified individuals" had been seen near hostels at night, raising security concerns.