Hindu College girls' hostel not to open this year

The girls' hostel at Delhi University's Hindu College which was supposed to be functional from the upcoming academic session will not make any enrolments this year, following a row over the rules and fee decided for the residential complex.
"It has been decided that there will be no admissions to the girls' hostel. Students who have taken the prospectus may return the same and get their fee refunded," college principal Anju Srivastava has said in an official circular.
Srivastava, however, refused to comment when asked that whether this decision has been taken following the controversy over the decided fee and rules for the hostel.

Hindu College has been providing on-campus hostel facilities to male students for decades. However, the girls' hostel which has been constructed, was supposed to be functional from the 2016-17 session.
The prospectus for admissions to the hostel triggered an outrage among the girl students who alleged that the rules laid down were "discriminatory" and amounted to "moral policing".
The prescribed fee also irked the girl students as the male students of Hindu College pay Rs 47,000 as hostel charges while the girls were asked to pay more than Rs 82,000.

Taking suo motu cognisance, the National Commission for Women (NCW) had an issued notice to the college last week seeking an explanation about the hostel rules for girls which have been termed as moral policing by students.

The rules listed in the hostel prospectus have asked students to dress as per "normal norms of the society", made it clear that no visitors will be allowed without prior permission "including girl students", the residents will be allowed only one night-out in a month and have a provision for random checks by the warden at any time.
Some of the other rules included mandatory presence of all residents in the hostel by 8.30 PM and a bar on roaming inside the hostel after 11 PM. The prospectus has also said a dress code may be notified for residents, if deemed necessary.

Students have been protesting against the alleged discrimination between girls and boys while deciding the rules and the fee for the hostel.
While the principal had earlier maintained that the new rules have been framed to ensure the safety of the residents and maintain decorum, she had justified the fee hike, saying it is a self-financed hostel and the amount is appropriate for maintenance of infrastructure and facilities being provided to the boarders.