Brave young law students from RGNUL,Patiala have ended their protest. As a Law student, I can understand that how they must have felt, while fighting lawfully on an issue against an institution, which itself taught them to stand for their rights. Countering an injustice in and against an institution which itself stands on the principles of law and justice, is really harsh and unfortunate.

Here is a detailed report of what actually happened in RGNUL for the last five days:

On 13th March, A wire was found in food in boys mess. The students intimated hostel authority and mess. This led to slamming of empty plates in cohesion by all boys in the hostel of all batches on their respective tables.

On 14th March, 6 students were called individually at 10:30 pm without announcement , faced with questions. One person treated with abuses and coerced to surrender phone with password. 

On 15th March, the Suspension order delivered on call for these 6 students of the same batch and enforced at 3:00 pm for ‘violence’ and destruction of college property.

At around 8 pm some boys started peaceful sitting in front of guest house. The silence lasted till 1 am and was turned into slogans followed by the students from the girls hostel joining the demonstration. Since the inception two letters were drafted and sent to the administration inside for communication and negotiation to no heed. Children were subjected to lathi police formations, gun displays etc. The peaceful protests primarily focused on the invalid suspension order, suspension of the Administrative officer for various allegations of harassment, the constitution of a student body and addressing general mismanagement and sexist environment at the university.

On 16th March, all students slept on the road. No food, water or blankets were provided. Provisions of departmental store also closed down. At 9:30 AM, Honb’le Judges of the Punjab and Haryana High court tried to mediate with students, on representation of Chancellor and requested the 6 students to come back, calling such an order to be ‘wrongly carried out ‘. At 12:00 pm a meeting was concluded between students, judges and the administration promising a meeting with the Chancellor the following day. However, at 4:00 PM another representative of the Honb’le chancellor, uninformed to students, was called by the university to its guest house. Students protested and negotiated , yet their demands were replied to with vague assurances and the earlier promises to have a democratic dialogue with the Chancellor were denied. Further a full fledged campus candle march was effected. The students then slept outside the vice chancellor’s residence.

On 17th March, the demands were put again, media attention was ascertained. However, media entry in the campus was barred by the administration. The students tried negotiating with the vice chancellor and the faculty. The vice chancellor declares all power to modify and make such rules rests solely with the Chancellor. Negotiations failed for the second time when the alumini association tried mediating as representatives, yet the demands were not met regardless of such reasonable efforts. The students slept at the main gate in the same way.

On 18th March, the Students chose to protest by not giving mid semester examinations, commencing the week. The authorities called in Rapid Action Force and other police officers, perhaps in wake of such protest. This was the 4th day today of protest. Students slept last night on the roads in mass protest and we are boycotting the mid semesters exams today.

On 19th March, around 8:00 PM, the administration promised to fulfill the demands and students called off the protest.

So, this all started with a small issue of some irregularity in the mess food, which generally happens in the Indian Universities most of the times. But, what shall be noted is the attitude of the institution. Students pay a fortune to read in NLUs and if they demand good (atleast eatable) food, there is nothing wrong in it. In my utter faith and an honest belief with the Bar Council of India, I strongly think that BCI should have taken suo-motto cognizance of the matter and would have intervened. We, no more want  KIIT or HNLU incidents in our colleges.

Legal Desire salutes the courage of all the Law Students from RGNUL that you people have lastly been successful in getting your demands fulfilled because, what doesn’t kill you, makes you stronger.

Cheers for a great time ahead!