Video Editor: Purnendu Pritam
Video Producer: Aastha Gulati
The Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) is one of the premiere law institutions in India that promises to provide excellence in legal education. Unfortunately, our future lies in abyss due to the ignorant attitude of the management towards the demands of students.
We have had genuine grievances with regards to the hostel, the food, but the VC has refused to agree to these. Following this, the students joined hands to protest for their basic rights. Friday, 20 September, marks the third day of our strike.
We lack basic necessities like good quality food, abundant supply of drinking water, library facilities including WiFi, and transparency regarding fees.
The students wanted to have a peaceful and productive interaction with the VC, Professor Nishtha Jaswal, regarding these, but we couldn’t reach a solution which was mutually beneficial.
We then went for a peaceful protest against the administration which indeed began on the next day – 17 September. The students submitted a draft to the VC stating problems faced.
The faculty members also addressed the students and asked them to send 5-6 representatives to talk to the VC. Unfortunately, even after several hours of protest, our grievances weren’t addressed, we were rather asked to call off the protest.
The next day, student representatives were sent to the Chancellor, however, the meeting was not constructive. The Chancellor blatantly denied the students’ request for help and said he stands with the administration.
When students put forth the request of transparency of the fees, the respected Chancellor dodged the question by saying that fee bifurcation will empower the students to move to consumer courts leading to “added problems” for the administration.
Instead of looking for a solution, the university cracked down on the protesters. They called our protest an agitation and told us strict action will be taken against those participating.
An arbitrary notice was issued immediately, shutting down the university and asking the students to vacate the hostel premises with immediate effect. We were told that failure to comply with the same would attract strict action, including suspension and rustication of students.
The university has stopped basic services, including those of food and water. Even the washrooms have been closed for use.
They have tried their best to break our unity, but we still stand united.
(The Quint reached out to the Registrar of HPNLU, Shimla. He refused to answer any of our questions but later the university released a press note denying all the alleged allegations made by the students. The Quint has a copy of the press note sent by HPNLU.)
(The author is a student at HPNLU and wishes to stay anonymous. All 'My Report' branded stories are submitted by citizen journalists to The Quint. Though The Quint inquires into the claims/allegations from all parties before publishing, the report and the views expressed above are the citizen journalist's own. The Quint neither endorses, nor is responsible for the same.)
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