HPNLU sit-in 
Law School

HPNLU sit-in protest ends on same day after University responds with written commitments

The grievances included a 6-day academic week, withdrawal of a 45-day attendance exemption for internships, re-examination fees and unhygienic conditions in the mess.

Satyendra Wankhade

Students at Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU), Shimla held a peaceful sit-in on September 14.

According to a press statement issued by students, the University administration responded with a written resolution.

The students had formally notified the administration about the sit-in in advance. They said that the decision was not taken lightly and followed months of "acute exhaustion and frustration" over unaddressed grievances.

The grievances included a 6-day academic week that ignored student feedback from an official survey, withdrawal of a 45-day attendance exemption for internships, a steep hike in backlog revaluation and re-examination fees and unhygienic conditions in the mess.

The sit-in began at the central mess area at 10 AM on Monday. Students called the action a last resort after the timetable survey results went unpublished. Within hours, the Registrar and the Deans of Academic Affairs and Student Welfare met student representatives. By 12:45 PM, the Vice-Chancellor's (VC) Secretariat issued a written response.

Classes will now run Monday to Saturday, but Saturdays will be reserved for tutorials and seminars instead of regular instruction. A student's mess committee has been set up to address hygiene concerns. The fee hike has been referred to the University's statutory bodies for its next meeting.

On the internship exemption, the administration pointed to Bar Council of India (BCI) norms. These require 20 weeks of internship in the 5-year integrated law course. It said that students could individually seek relaxation from the BCI.

The Four Burners Theory: What law firms have to give up to grow

Graham Staines murder: Odisha tells Supreme Court it has rejected convict Dara Singh’s remission plea

Dahej industrial accident: Supreme Court asks Gujarat HC to initiate suo motu case to trace and compensate victims

Sikkim High Court initiates suo motu case on climate disasters after Nepal floods

2-year delay in rendering arbitral award not by itself a ground to set it aside: Delhi High Court

SCROLL FOR NEXT