University of Hyderabad officials raid hostels, penalize students for rule violations

According to notices that were served by the UoH authorities, the Chief Warden penalized a student Rs.30,000 on charges of harbouring unauthorised persons, keeping/consuming banned substances and cooking food inside the hostel room besides using prohibited electrical devices in the room.

From harbouring unauthorized persons to storing/consuming banned substances, the University of Hyderabad (UoH) officials were shocked to find rules being violated by students during raids taken-up on Monday, in the university hostels.

According to notices that were served by the UoH authorities, the Chief Warden penalized a student Rs.30,000 on charges of harbouring unauthorised persons, keeping/consuming banned substances and cooking food inside the hostel room besides using prohibited electrical devices in the room.

Another student was fined Rs.20,000 for harbouring unauthorised persons, using prohibited electrical devices and an induction stove in the room. The Chief Warden directed students to pay the fine to the UoH Hostel Fund within 10 days from date of notice issuance, else the amount will automatically be added to their hostel/mess dues without further notice.

However, the action by UoH authorities did not go down well with the student community, who on Tuesday protested and termed the raids as ‘moral policing’ and ‘infringement of privacy’.

In a statement, SFI UoH unit said a flying squad led by Chief Warden videographed students when they were not even fully clothed in their rooms. The SFI termed the raids as an attack on student’s dignity and privacy.

The SFI UoH unit said the Chief Warden raided hostels to cover up his failure to address basic issues in hostels. “We have been continuously demanding for mess and hostel committees to resolve students’ issues at the local level. However, the Chief Warden is unable to conduct hostel elections or form mess committees. We are also demanding common kitchens and hot water dispensers at every hostel. The Chief Warden failed to understand the sensitivity of these issues and not even attempted to take up these issues,” said the SFI UoH unit and demanded immediate resignation of the Chief Warden.