Girls accuse Hindu college of discrimination

Delhi University's Hindu College is again in the eye of the storm for allegedly imposing 'discriminatory' hostel rules and fee-structure on female hostellers.

According to students, as per the new hostel fee structure issued by the college, girls have to pay far more than boys. "Female students will have to pay around Rs 70,000 annually which is around Rs 20,000 more than what is being charged from the male students," said a third-year student at Hindu College, on condition of anonymity.

"Also, there is a curfew timing of 11 pm for girls. Although the college has raised the deadline of 8:30 pm from last year but still why was it there in the first place? Boys have no curfew timings."

The college administration, however, denied the charges. "Some students are disseminating false information about the college. We have not made any discriminatory hostel rules for girls," said a senior official at the college.

Hindu college principal Anju Shrivastav did not respond for a comment.

The students also alleged that knowing the move would prompt unrest on the campus, the administration did not upload the new guidelines on its website. "The administration has moved with utmost stealth, not announcing the hostel on their website but instead sending new students separate mails," alleged another third-year student at the college.

Last year also, students had held multiple protests against the 'discriminatory' hostel rules following which the college authorities had announced that there would be no admissions in the girls' hostel. However, later, the college decided to reconsider its stand and formed a committee to look into the issue.

Former Delhi Culture Minister Kapil Mishra had also accused Hindu College authorities of imposing 'regressive and discriminatory' rules for female hostellers and had sought Delhi University Vice Chancellor's intervention in this regard.