Many NU students who paid for ISC told to vacate hostel for guests

Nagpur: The Nagpur University administration led by vice-chancellor SR Chaudhari has drawn severe criticism from various quarters for asking several postgraduate (PG) students to vacate their hostel rooms to host guests during the 103rd Indian Science Congress (ISC). Many of these students belong to science faculty and were mandatorily asked to pay ₹1,200 registration charges for the event and ₹250 as annual subscription.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the ISC which is starting from January 3.
Some days back, the students were baffled to see a notice posted in their hostel asking them to vacate the rooms and remove their belongings by December 25.
The students pressed the panic button as their winter exams are set to start from December 22. “We brought to the notice of the administration that we too have paid for the conference and are planning to take part in it. Our exams are also starting and the whole exercise would disturb our preparation,” said a MSc student.
Following the outcry by students, NU hostel officials have verbally assured them of postponing the upcoming exam as well as accommodating them in the blocks of senior batches.
The NU PG hostel off Ambazari Road bypass has 102 rooms and pharmacy hostel on the same campus has 42 rooms.
As per the notice dated December 3, students have been asked to vacate both the ground floor wings of the PG Boys’s hostel as well as remove their belongings from December 25 to January 9, 2023.
The administration has planned to host over 200 schoolkids from across the country in around 50 rooms of the PG hostel, its hall and on the ground floor of the pharmacy hostel. Officials said some additional arrangements would be made elsewhere if more schoolkids turn up.
“Schoolkids would be accommodated there from safety point of view as the hostel is close from the ISC venue. The VC has been requested to postpone the exam of three departments that would be affected by the shuffling,” officials said.
After students opposed the move, the hostel officials had held a discussion with them on December 15.
“There was some misunderstanding between us and the administration. Our doubts have been cleared and we are not required to vacate but make a temporary adjustment for a few days. All of us make adjustments when guests come to our home. Just like that, we will have to bear the trouble for some days,” a couple of MSc students said.
Some students from outside the state said they were not sure if they have to stay back or move as the notice has not been revised.
The notice had also mentioned that the students were free to go back home during the said period.