NUSRL Ranchi students hold protest over women's safety and hostel restrictions

Students of National University of Study and Research in Law (NUSRL), Ranchi protested on October 3 over women's safety and hostel rules.

The protest ran from about 2 AM to 7 AM, with a few faculty members attending. According to sources, it has ended and the issues are being resolved internally.

An email sent to the Vice-Chancellor's (VC) office, the Registrar and the Dean listed 14 concerns from the girls' hostel.

Students alleged that labourers frequently move through student areas, some inadequately clothed. They claimed workers have begun living in the new library building near residences. They also said that male workers enter the girls' hostel without adequate notice and that the warning bell is hard to hear. They have sought a fixed, notified schedule.

Female students have alleged that some recently posted guards stare at them intrusively and have sought sensitisation, supervision and accountability for security staff. Students also said that several areas on campus and outside the gate are poorly lit and lack CCTV cameras. They alleged that female students have faced eve-teasing shortly after leaving the campus.

They also also pointed out that they must seek permission and send emails before leaving the hostel and that calls are made to check whether they reached home. They allege that the boys' hostel has no such system, suggesting gender discrimination.

The email, sent on October 3, also said that the administration had not offered direct dialogue. They questioned if they could even raise campus issues without facing disciplinary action and sought a transparent process for sexual harassment complaints. They also flagged a broken sanitary machine.

A student linked the protest to an allegation that the administration was shielding another student over a social media post that many found objectionable.

Bar & Bench attempted to reach the NUSRL administration for comment, to no avail.