New Delhi, September 26
After rotten food, it is illegal eviction. The Mahi Mandavi hostel in JNU is back in the news following the allegations of ‘discrimination’ and ‘high-handedness’ of the authorities. Fourteen students have been on hunger strike for the third day today.
The trouble between the students and the authorities began after the eviction orders passed against a student, Sajjan Kumar of the Mahi Mandavi hostel by the wardens. “The notice was illegal as it was based on a verbal complaint. Besides, there is no evidence of the basis on which the notice was issued,” said a student of the hostel.
Interestingly, even though the authorities have revoked the eviction orders, the students have resorted to a hunger strike, seeking an apology and an enquiry into the matter.
“I was on a trip to Germany and during my absence, the wardens claim to have received a verbal complaint that someone was illegally staying in my room. The wardens conducted a search and no one was found to be staying there,” alleged Sajjan Kumar.
He went on to say, “Despite this, the wardens pasted a showcause notice on my door.”
Sajjan alleged that despite 150 hostel inmates having given a signed statement that his room was not being used in his absence, the wardens went ahead with the eviction orders.
“To save their face, the wardens have taken back the eviction order, but they have not yet accepted that the charges were false. I want to be compensated for the mental trauma that I underwent for the last two months,” said Mr Sajjan seeking an “apology from the wardens and the assurance that such incidents will not recur”.
While the authorities are tight-lipped about the issue and the vice-chancellor away, the students have entered the third day of their hunger strike. “The strike will continue till the authorities take action against the wardens. Six students have gone on an indefinite hunger strike while the remaining will relay,” said another hostel inmate, Sirish, who is also on strike.
The students also allege that the authorities have made no attempts to meet the protesting students and the meeting with the Dean was also a failure.
