RGNUL protests continue; students write to Chancellor calling for resignation of Vice-Chancellor

Protests at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL), Patiala continued for the third day as students voiced their concerns over the inappropriate demeanour of the Vice-Chancellor Prof Jai S Singh.

In a letter addressed to the Chancellor and Chief Justice of the Punjab & Haryana High Court, the University Grants Commission (UGC), the National Commission for Women (NCW), and the Chief Justice of India, the students have outlined the Vice-Chancellor's behaviour - from entering the girls' hostel on a surprise non-consensual visit to making derogatory remarks about female students' attire and academic choices.

The protests stem from a visit to the girls' hostel by the Vice-Chancellor on September 22. A video circulating on social media shows him inspecting the rooms of the female inmates. When the inmates object, he is seen assuring the female students that he is not conducting the inspection alone but is accompanied by a female warden. The letter states that one student was questioned by the VC immediately upon returning from a shower, not giving her sufficient time to dress appropriately.

Bar & Bench reached out to Prof Singh, who explained that complaints by some female hostel inmates about the quality of the mess food and other hostel amenities prompted his visit. He added that the hostel warden accompanied him during his inspection.

Addressing the student protest late on Sunday evening, Singh stated that he viewed all female students as his granddaughters and issued an apology. However, the students did not accept the same.

The letter states that instead of addressing the concerns of the students, the RGNUL administration decided to close the University on September 23.

According to the letter, the Vice-Chancellor had also made impromptu classroom and library visits, during which he made discouraging comments about students' academic and co-curricular pursuits.

The students demand the resignation of the Vice-Chancellor as well as an unconditional apology. Additionally, they have called for the formation of an RGNUL Student Bar Association to better represent their interests.

Posters and decorations placed around the campus by the students to raise awareness of their grievances have been removed. Meanwhile, a special committee was formed to address students' concerns. However, three faculty members have since stepped down from the committee.

Students are protesting in the sun, facing restricted access to washrooms and the administrative block.

They claimed that the administration and the Vice-Chancellor have also reached out to their parents and senior students in an attempt to deter them from protesting.