Law University Protests Put Sexism, Morality, Entitlement In Focus

Student protests that have erupted at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) at Patiala have raised the larger concerns around sexism, entitlement and morality. The students of this institution have been protesting at the campus since September 22 seeking the resignation of the Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Jai Shankar Singh.

They have been camping outside the VC’s residence, complaining that the authorities are preventing them from interacting with the media. Media persons have not been allowed inside the gates of the University.

The academic activities at the institution have come to a standstill.

Protesting students told The Citizen that they have now sent a representation to the Chancellor of the University Justice Sheen Nagu, who is the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, to address their pressing concerns.

The protest erupted in reaction to the VC entering the girls’ hostel on September 22 without prior notice. However, the anger grew due to his alleged “increasingly frequent and outrageous actions” causing “distress to and encroaching upon the dignity and privacy of the students”.

The students said that his actions have not only had an adverse effect on the morale of students, but also the reputation of the University. The VC has reportedly denied the allegations against him.

Reports in the media have quoted him saying that he visited the girls’ hostel to inspect and “identify students who smoke and drink alcohol after midnight” as he had received several complaints.

Now, Congress Member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor has come out seeking a commission of enquiry into the matter. In a tweet Tharoor said, “Disturbing to read that Patiala’s RGNUL has been shut after students demanded the VC’s resignation over a surprise girls’ hostel inspection to “check on drinking after midnight”, and a disgraceful pattern of sexist remarks on women.

“It is startling that the Vice Chancellor of a law university seems completely unaware of his students’ constitutional right to privacy. The government should immediately appoint a commission of enquiry, and the VC should step aside until its findings are released. The behaviour reported in the media seems at the least inappropriate…”

The students are angry at his entry in the girls’ hostel without prior notice and under the pretence of a ‘routine check’. “The purported purpose of the visit was to inspect the functioning of the mess and to inspect the issue of lack of accommodation for the first year students.

“Here, it is important to note that according to the University guidelines, the premises of the girls’ hostel are limited to female members of the RGNUL community. Even parents of students are denied entry.

In light of this, we strongly condemn the actions of the VC for the following reasons:

“a. The VC did not provide any prior notification of such an inspection to the students or the hostel warden. Consequently, he was not accompanied by any female faculty or guards, until at a later stage when they were informed.

“b. The VC entered the rooms of female students, who, unaware of such a visit, were faced with an uncomfortable situation. For instance, one student was questioned by the VC immediately upon returning from a shower, not giving her sufficient time to dress appropriately.

“Another student questioned him about the reason for his visit and the lack of notification, to which he answered that the girls are like his daughters, and he was not misbehaving with them.

“c. The VC deviated from the purported purpose of his visit by visiting third years’ rooms as opposed to the first years. Additionally, he made inappropriate and insensitive remarks to female students, ranging from comments on their manner of clothing, their personal activities and academic endeavours,” a representation by the students given initially to the University authorities including the Registrar and the VC, stated.

They have contested that the said inspection could have been conducted by a female staff of the University avoiding the entry of a male member into the girls’ hostel premises. The students have condemned the ‘unacceptable violation of the privacy and dignity of the occupants of the girls’ hostel’.

The students said that this initial representation had sought an unconditional apology from the VC for his conduct. The apology is yet to come.

There is anger among the students over what they term “multiple instances of extremely insensitive and rude comments” towards them by the VC.

They have mentioned comments like, “‘Agar aukaat nahi thi toh itne high-level university mei admission kyu liya?’ (if you do not have the financial capacity then why have you come to such a high level university),

“‘Tum jaise nalayak bache apne pariwar ki arthik sthiti jaan ke bhi itne high-level course mei admission lene aajate ho’ (good for nothing children like you take admission in such a high-level course even after being completely aware of the financial situation of your family)”, and “‘3-year BA kyu nhi kar liya’ (why did you not pursue the 3-year BA instead)”.

They have even pointed towards alleged sexist remarks like “‘Ladki ho domestic violence, marriage jaisa act uthao aur aram se ghar pr course karo. Kyu itna complicated aur naya topic leti ho’ (you are a girl. Pick a topic like domestic violence or marriage and stay back at home and pursue the course), ‘kyun usko itna complicated kaam diya hai, ladki hain thoda asaan sa kaam do’ (why have you given such a complicated topic? She is a girl, give her an easy topic) and ‘Tumhare maa baap tumhe paise dete hai aise kapde pehenne ke liye’ (do your parents provide you with the money to wear such clothes?)”.

Reports in the media have quoted the VC as saying that the accusations of his questioning the clothing or any other misconduct are baseless. He said that he is over 60 years old and the students are just like his granddaughters. He would never misbehave with them.

He has also reportedly stated that he had visited the girls’ hostel to address the complaints regarding overcrowding due to dual-sharing arrangements. He explained that the University had admitted more female students this year leading to space constraints.

The representation also talks of “excessive Interference into academic and co-curricular pursuits” that have also been raised by the teaching faculty in the last few weeks. The students have pointed at the manner of classroom inspections being conducted by the VC.

“Through these inspections, the VC has disrupted the flow of learning, and made disparaging comments on the teaching methodologies adopted by the professors. All of this has contributed to a hostile atmosphere of learning.

“While the student community acknowledges that the VC has the prerogative to conduct checks on ongoing classes, the method adopted was more disruptive than constructive. This is evidenced by the concerns raised by the professors in a series of emails,” the students have stated in their representation.

Besides seeking the resignation of Prof. Singh with immediate effect, the students have called for the constitution of the RGNUL Student Bar Association and an internal complaints committee.