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Student protest at Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law in Patiala continues.

The Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) has been making headlines in recent days due to a controversy involving Vice-Chancellor Jai Shankar Singh. On September 22, 2024, the Vice-Chancellor conducted a surprise inspection of the girls’ hostel, which sparked protests among students. The students began a peaceful march through the academic block, raised slogans outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office, and have since boycotted classes, deeming the university’s decision to continue them without addressing the issue as “unjust.”
The students allege that during the inspection, the Vice-Chancellor made inappropriate comments about their attire, thus violating their privacy.In response, the Punjab State Women’s Commission intervened, with Chairperson Raj Lali Gill writing to the President of India, Prime Minister’s Office, and the university’s Chancellor, seeking action against the Vice-Chancellor. On September 26, the chairperson emphasized that the Vice-Chancellor’s actions caused distress and violated the students’ privacy and modesty.
In his defense, Vice-Chancellor Jai Shankar Singh refuted the claims, explaining that his visit was at the request of the students, who had raised concerns about overcrowded hostel rooms. He clarified that due to the higher number of female students this year, some rooms meant for single occupancy had to accommodate two students. He visited the rooms, accompanied by the female chief warden and women security guards, to assess the situation and denied making any inappropriate remarks. He stated that he only entered the rooms after the female staff and that the visit took place during lunchtime, not at night. The Vice-Chancellor urged the students to call off their protest, stating that efforts were underway to resolve the issue through dialogue, and that he would submit a report to the government.
Among their list of demands, the students are also calling for a formal, written apology from Singh, the immediate establishment of an internal complaints committee to address student concerns, and the formation of an RGNUL Student Bar Association as per a previous agreement made in March 2019.
The incident has sparked widespread debate within the university, with students expressing outrage not only over the alleged privacy violations but also over the manner in which the vice-chancellor addressed the protest. According to several students, Singh attempted to downplay the severity of the situation by referring to the female students as his “granddaughters” and dismissing their concerns.
Despite these assurances, on October 6, 2024, the students escalated their protest by starting an indefinite hunger strike, insisting that they would not relent until their demands were met, as reported by PTI. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann spoke to the students on September 27, assuring them that the state government was committed to delivering justice. The Punjab State Women’s Commission has also reiterated its call for the removal of the Vice-Chancellor.