A group of women students of the Jamia Millia Islamia University on Monday protested against "discriminatory" restrictions imposed on them, a week after a hostel inmate was disallowed from receiving food she had ordered after the 8-pm deadline.
One of the inmates of the Old Hall of Girls' Residence of the university alleged that a fellow female student was last week not allowed to receive food she had ordered after the "curfew".
"Similarly numerous rules and regulations restrict the mobility and autonomy of adult women in our institutions of higher education," she said.
Provost Dr S Azar Khursheed said that after the incident a notice was issued on Monday extending the deadline of curfew. "They (the woman students) may be granted a maximum of four late nights permission (till 10 pm) in a month with prior permission of hostel authorities and message from parents," the notice says. "Food items may be received till 10 pm at night," it adds.
According to the previous rule, women students were allowed entry inside the hostel until 8 pm and food items could be received till the same time, university authorities said. There is no such restriction on male students.
Nasima Choudhury, a third-year student said, "Though the deadlines were extended, we want it to extend till 11.30 pm. Food from the mess is not available after 10 pm. What if a student wants to eat after that?"
Students said they will submit a memorandum to vice-chancellor Talat Ahmed after their protest. Khursheed said, "They may raise their demands, but the university administration will take decisions according to the policies it follows."
