The student in whose room a girl was found staying against the norms in the University of Hyderabad was issued a show cause notice earlier for the same reason.
The student, instead of giving a reply to the authorities went online with messages that he did not want to respect the hostel rules before submitting the same note to the administration, the university officials claimed.
“Many are accusing the university of taking harsh action without any warning but the student was warned on October 27 this year for the same violation,” UoH Pro Vice Chancellor P. Ramesh Babu and spokesperson Vinod Pavarala said at a press conference here. They said the university was being dragged into a needless controversy.
Due process
Professor Ramesh Babu said some of the 10 suspended students have now given representations to the Vice Chancellor seeking revocation of the punishment or reducing the quantum of the punishment. The VC will now have to refer it to the Executive Council, which can take a final decision on it. He also made it clear that action was taken against them as per norms after conducting a proper inquiry.
They said the quantum of punishment was suggested by the inquiry committee given the nature of the incident taking into account several aspects like unauthorised stay of a girl in boy’s hostel, safety of girl students and the intimidation of the wardens including physical attack and verbal abuse.
Unauthorised stay
Professor Pavarala rejected the charges of moral policing stating that girl students were allowed to meet their friends in the hostels and also have food sometimes but this unauthorised stay in the rooms was against the norms. All students give an undertaking at the time of admission on following the set guidelines.
The officials also made it clear that this was only suspension and not rustication and students can continue their studies after the punishment period is completed. Moreover, legal action was not considered and varsity preferred to solve the issue using the established processes for such offences. Parents of suspended students were also informed about the developments.
Co-ed hostels
Rejecting the charges that UoH was gender biased, they said gender segregated hostels for students is the standard practice in all educational institutions in India and most universities explicitly prohibits men staying in women's hostel rooms and vice-versa.
At the same time, the University is open to eliciting feedback from all stakeholders to examine the possibility of arranging for co-ed hostels for its students. However, this will be done in due course of time and providing for such facilities is contingent upon resources made available to the university. Deputy chief wardens Vineet Nair and Suvashish Rana and Warden Ramchandar were also present.