Banaras Hindu University’s women’s college, the Mahila Maha Vidyalalaya (MMV), has landed in a controversy after hostel authorities are said to have suspended a first-year partially-blind student for alleged homosexuality on the complaint of almost 20 women hostellers.

It is being said the girl had been allegedly harassing another student and threatening her of suicide if she complained to anyone about it. “Earlier this month, the girl’s roommates and 18 other girls approached us and asked to intervene in the matter,” said Neelam Atri, the hostel coordinator. Consequently, the administration called her guardians and allegedly insulted the girl before expelling her from the hostel. “The suspension has been made because a lot of girls complained about her and also she didn’t have anyone to support her side of the story,” said Atri.

But the hostel administration suspended her orally and didn’t issue any notice to the girl. When asked on what basis the suspension was made, there were no answers from them.

On condition of anonymity, one of the complainants said, “Maybe she was suffering from obsessive disorders as she would get into the room late at night and shine the torch on her body. She used to stare at the other girl in class and was forcing her to be in a relationship. Her right to live doesn’t mean she could take everyone else’s right away.” At the same time, another complainant had a different view, “Our intention was not to get the girl suspended, we just wanted the girl to be counselled, so that she will stop doing all this.”

In cases of conflict and harassment among girls, the accused girl is usually housed in a room in the hostel next to the warden’s as punishment but never got suspended. Attempts to contact the girl, who has been suspended, went unanswered.

The incident has created a divide on the campus as students say the BHU rule book states that lesbian girls are not allowed to stay in hostels. The students are demanding that the administration needs to clarify the basis of suspension and the case could have been dealt in a better way. “She was expelled without any warning. The girl has only been here for a few months as she is a first year student and the administration doesn’t really have proof to say she is lesbian,” said a BA first-year student.

Add to the fact that she comes from a poor family and the suspension will cause trouble for her as she will not be able to afford studies, if she doesn’t find space in the hostel.

“If MMV suspended the girl on the basis of its rule denying hostel rooms to lesbians, we all should stand up and fight against it. But, while looking into this particular case, it’s a completely different issue which includes other angles too. However, there is no doubt that the administration was too harsh with the girl. There were better ways to deal with this case,” said a BA third-year student.