Patiala law varsity students continue protest against VC

A day after the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) in Patiala’s Sidhuwal village was ordered “closed till further orders”, an agitation on the university campus continued with students demanding resignation of the VC.

The students are protesting against the Vice-Chancellor alleging that he entered the girls’ hostel on Sunday for inspection besides some earlier “sexist remarks” passed by him. Students continue to hold a sit-in outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office and have already sent a representation to the university Chancellor for action.

Meanwhile, the students and the nine-member committee formed by the university authorities could not hold any meeting as the student representatives wanted the Vice-Chancellor to address the issue himself.

The protest erupted on the campus on Sunday afternoon and continued overnight with the students demanding immediate resignation of VC Prof Jai Shankar Singh. Students alleged the protests followed the surprise visit by Singh on Sunday, who entered the girls’ hostel for “inspection”, but “without any prior information”.

The university authorities say a committee has been formed to discuss all issues and the institution has been closed till further orders. Late Tuesday evening, some student representatives and the university-appointed committee members held a closed-door meeting, but it remained inconclusive.

The VC, meanwhile, addressed the students on Sunday and said all girl students were like his granddaughters and that he went to the girls’ hostel following complaints that some students consumed alcohol during the night.