JNU: No debate in mess, guest of opposite sex prohibited in the room, proposes administration

In yet another decision, aimed at curbing dissent and discussion of ideas on the campus, the Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) administration has proposed to end debates and meetings in hostel without prior permission.

The new draft hostel manual, which has angered the student community, also states that that students will have to take the permission from the Dean of students five days before for public meetings.

“Students/ residents shall not hold any meeting within the hostel premises unless with the prior permission of the Senior Warden of the Hostel concerned and such permission should normally be obtained at least 5 working days in advance of the meeting,” reads the draft of the hostel manual released by the university on Sunday.

The manual also added says that a guest of the opposite sex will not be allowed in the room.

“The residents shall not hold any religious, cultural or political function (other than related to students’ activities) within the premises of the hostel,” says the manual.

Predictably, the new hostel draft manual has riled up the students. They have launched a signature campaign immediate after the draft guidelines were issued. JNUSU has planned huge protests in coming days.

“The ploy is to turn our hostels into jails,” underscored the newly elected JNUSU president Aishe Ghosh.

Meanwhile, JNU inter-hall administration has allowed students to give their feedback about the new manual. A meeting has been scheduled for October 18 in this regard.

Dean of students Umesh Kadam, who is also in-charge of JNU’s inter-hall administration, was quoted as saying by the media that the administration will not implement anything arbitrarily.

“We will go through democratic process. That’s why we have asked students to give us suggestions,” he was quoted as saying by a newspaper.

There are 18 hostels in JNU spread spread over the campus, in Dakshinapuram Khand, Paschimabad(I) Khand, Paschimabad(II) Khand, Poorvanchal Khand and Uttrarakhand Khand.