JNU Students' Union stage protest demanding reopening of campus, hostel accommodation

The University had issued guidelines to reopen the campus in a phased manner from September 6, however, the students' body claimed that the administration had made hollow promises.

Jawaharlal Nehru University Students' Union (JNUSU) staged a protest demanding reopening of the campus and hostel accommodation for 2019 and 2020 batch students. The JNUSU staged a protest outside the office of the Dean of Students (DoS) and urged students to join their indefinite sit-in agitation. 

The University had issued guidelines to reopen the campus in a phased manner from September 6, however, the students' body claimed that the administration had made hollow promises.

"Following the protest at DoS by JNUSU today, DoS was pressured into meeting the delegation of JNUSU. JNUSU put forth the demands of immediate commencement of allotment of the hostel to 2020 and 2019 batches, issuance of identity card to the first-year students, improvement in hostel infrastructure and universal vaccination in front of DoS," the students' body said as reported by NDTV.

They further said that they decided to call for an indefinite sit-in outside DoS office after they did not receive any concrete response on any of their demands. 

"JNUSU appeals to the student community to participate in the sit-in in maximum numbers and intensify the struggle for the immediate allotment of hostels, meaningful phase-wise opening of the campus, universal vaccination and improvement in hostel and health infrastructure," the students' union said.

The students, carrying banners that read "Mamidala is malafide and all students are bonafide", raised slogans against the administration. 

During a live Facebook session later in the day, JNU Vice-Chancellor Mamidala Jagadesh Kumar and other university officials answered students' queries related to scholarships, hostel allotment, resumption of physical classes and hostel repair. 

Dean of Students Sudheer Pratap Singh said that the Inter Hall Administration has created a committee to work towards hostel repair and some of the urgent repairs that need to be carried out. For bigger repairs, they are also trying to get funds, he said.

"The hostel allotment will be done for students on the day they arrive on campus. Their documents will be verified on the very first day and they will be allotted rooms. More than 50 per cent of the hostel rooms are lying vacant," assured Dean of Students Professor Sudheer Pratap Singh, the media house reported.

Read More:

• JNU Courses & Fees
• JNU Admissions