A major student protest has broken out at the Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) as over 200 students rallied against Vice-Chancellor Dr Jai Shankar Singh, accusing him of inappropriate and sexist behaviour. The protests began on September 22 evening, following an unannounced visit by the VC to the girls’ hostel, where he allegedly inspected rooms without prior notice or consent from the students. This incident has raised serious concerns about privacy violations and the university’s adherence to established protocols.
The protests were ignited after Dr. Singh’s visit to the girls’ hostel, where he reportedly entered rooms uninvited. Students expressed their outrage at what they considered a blatant disregard for their privacy. “How can he enter the girls’ hostel like that when even our own parents aren’t allowed?” questioned a student, highlighting the stringent rules governing access to the hostel premises. According to the university’s regulations, the girls’ hostel is strictly off-limits to male members of the university community unless special permission is granted.
Witnesses described how Dr. Singh entered the hostel, first visiting the mess area where he interacted with students about the food before proceeding to inspect individual rooms. One student recalled a particularly alarming moment: “I had just returned from a shower when he walked in. I was in my bathrobe, and that felt like a complete violation of my consent.” This sentiment was echoed by several students who felt uncomfortable and vulnerable during the surprise inspection.
Dr. Singh claimed his purpose was to address complaints about smoking and drinking in the hostel, stating that he was there to ensure the safety and well-being of the students. “He said he wanted to check on us and identify students who smoke and drink after midnight,” shared another student. “But his presence made us feel unsafe and objectified.”
In the wake of the backlash, RGNUL’s administration attempted to address the situation by organising a meeting with a nine-member committee aimed at resolving student grievances. An official notice was sent out, inviting students to express their concerns. However, when no students attended the scheduled meeting, the administration announced the university’s closure until further notice, allowing students who wished to return home to do so.
The administration’s decision to close the university has been met with further criticism, as students interpreted it as an effort to suppress dissent. Ishita Sharma, the university’s Public Relations Officer, stated, “We constituted a nine-member committee to address and resolve the grievances of students. An urgent meeting was called, but none of the students or their representatives attended.” This lack of attendance has raised questions about the effectiveness of the administration’s outreach efforts.
In a surprising move, the university administration also sent notices to students’ parents, allegedly to mitigate the protests and defuse tensions. Students expressed their dismay at this action, viewing it as an attempt to undermine their autonomy and agency in voicing their concerns.
The students’ protests are not solely a response to the recent incident but also reflect a broader pattern of behaviour exhibited by the VC. Many students have shared previous experiences where Dr. Singh made insensitive remarks regarding women’s roles and responsibilities, including comments about their clothing and academic choices. “He casually passes remarks on women students and faculty. Once, he even suggested that women should be taught cooking and similar domestic skills to prepare for married life,” a protesting student alleged.
The students have made several demands in light of the incident, including:
- The immediate resignation of Dr. Jai Shankar Singh.
- A written, unconditional apology from the VC for his actions.
- The establishment of the RGNUL Student Bar Association, in line with the terms of the Mutual Agreement signed on March 19, 2019.
- The formation of an Internal Complaints Committee to address current and future concerns raised by the RGNUL student community.
In response to the mounting accusations, Dr. Singh defended his actions during a subsequent address to the students. He asserted that his surprise inspection was a necessary measure to maintain order and address complaints of misconduct among students. “Girls who do not drink and smoke were constantly complaining that some others bring such things inside the hostel. They get such things from outside on the pretext of ordering food. We had to identify such students,” he explained, justifying his approach.
Moreover, he claimed that he was accompanied by female wardens during the inspection, which he believed justified his actions. “Well-behaved girls were themselves showing their rooms to me,” he insisted, downplaying the discomfort expressed by many students. He further dismissed allegations of making inappropriate comments about students’ attire, claiming that they were false accusations from a minority of dissatisfied students.
As protests continued, students formally submitted a written representation to the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, who serves as the ex-officio Chancellor of RGNUL. In their communication, they outlined their grievances and demanded Dr. Singh’s resignation, stating that his actions have adversely affected not only the morale of the students but also the reputation of the university itself.
The representation highlighted the VC’s previous instances of inappropriate behaviour, including alleged derogatory comments directed at female students regarding their academic choices and personal circumstances. Students recounted remarks made by the VC, including statements questioning their financial backgrounds and dismissing their academic pursuits as overly complicated for women. “Do your parents give you money to buy such clothes?” he allegedly asked one group of students, which many viewed as an unwarranted intrusion into their personal lives.
