The University of Hyderabad (UoH) has suspended 10 students for durations ranging from six months to two years for not complying with rules, preventing officials from delivering their duties and verbal assault, the notice read. The decision was taken by an inquiry committee constituted by Vice-Chancellor Appa Rao.

The suspension letter says the students have been suspended from their academic programme and hostel accommodation. It says the students won’t be given hostel admission at the time of re-joining.

The incident that led to the suspension of students took place on November 3 midnight when there was a raid at Men’s Hostel J led by the wardens and a woman student was found in one of the boys’ rooms, which is against the hostel rule book.

The argument between students and officials created chaos as around 100 students gathered in the corridor and started sloganeering against the patriarchal attitude of the wardens and asking them to leave. The row went on till 1am as police arrived at the spot and made the wardens leave. Following the incident, a show-cause notice was sent to 12 students including students’ union president Sreerag and general secretary Arif Ahammed requesting to be present before the inquiry committee on November 5.

The students, however, alleged that the inquiry was not fair. “Questions were asked just to prove that there was a girl in the room and none of our concerns were listened,” said Pratyush, one of the suspended students. The students also alleged that one of the wardens was drunk and used derogatory words against the female student. “What are you doing here in the middle of the night? You want every man in the university to be inside the ladies hostel, will you be satisfied then,’ were the dialogues,” Athira Unni told Newslaundry.

This is not the first time action is being taken in an issue of this kind. Two women students were suspended during a raid conducted two months back. “This is an administrative attempt to silence the dissenting voices. Let’s not fall prey to this strategy of singling out people, turning each issue into an individual level and successfully suppress all protests,” said Unni.

The students’ union had put out a notice saying that the cherry-picking of rules from the rule book is incredulous and shows a transparent picture of sexism and patriarchy that forms the basis of policy.

The whole student community is disappointed with such an arbitrary decision taken by the administration. “With so many suicides and suspensions happening in the varsity, this shows the administration’s lack of interest in student’s welfare. Also it is disgusting to see such moral policing by faculty within a gender sensitive space like Hyderabad University. This university won’t let us breathe,” said Debomita Mukherjee, a research scholar from sociology department.  Students are planning to hold a widespread protest inside the university campus in the days to come.

When contacted, Dean of Students’ Welfare Debashish Acharya declined to comment on the issue. “I am not willing to comment anything on this. Whatever has to be communicated will come through office bearers,” said Acharya. Newslaundry tried to contact the Chief Warden Vasuki Belavadi, but the call went unanswered.