Students of the Central University of Rajasthan at Kishangarh, near here, have started an agitation against surveillance rules in the girls’ hostels on the pretext of security, the alleged harassment on the campus and the lack of facilities in the fully residential varsity. The female students broke their hostel gates on Tuesday night and were joined by the male students in the protest.
The students said on the condition of anonymity on Wednesday that there was an “undeclared emergency” on the campus and the administration had imposed rules which affected their right to privacy and freedom to assemble and move within the university. Biometric systems have reportedly been installed at every gate for girls and a message is sent to their parents on every punching.
‘Harassment, torture’
“We are scared and feel claustrophobic inside the university campus. The administration continuously threatens us on different issues. This unnecessary harassment and torture must be stopped,” said a research scholar.
After sending a charter of demands to the CUOR authorities, the students said they would stage demonstration on the campus every evening until an appropriate action was taken. Besides raising the surveillance issue, the charter has demanded proper facilities for library, food, water, sanitation, transportation and safety.
The university administration said no charter of demands had been submitted to it by any student body.
“The university has an elected-cum-nominated body, called the Students’ Council, which represents the entire student community and is the official representative of students for such activities,” a CUOR spokesperson said, while refusing to comment on the document.