Delhi Commission for Women has served a notice to Jamia Millia Islamia asking it explain the reason behind their recent circular aimed at female residents of its hostels.
The letter signed by the DCW chairperson, Swati Maliwal, wrote to the university’s VC, Professor Talat Ahmed, “Your guidelines seem to have been issued only for girls and not for boys, thereby raising allegations of discrimination. Jamia Millia Islamis is one of the premier institutions of India and the steps appear to have to have been taken for ensuring the safety of girl students. However, there may be a case wherein completely disallowing the entry of girl students after 8 pm may end up putting them at greater risks.”
A university notice last week had said that the girl students staying in university hostels could not be out after 8 pm adding that the new rule was being introduced ‘in their best interests.’
The new rules barred female residents of Jamia hostels from seeking permission for late night outs.
A university notice said, “Residents of the Hall of Girls are informed that no late night is allowed any more. You are, therefore, required to follow the norms, in your own best interests.”
Justifying the new rule, the Public Relations Officer, Mukesh Ranjan had said that the new rules were introduced because of security concerns of female students living in university hostels.
The affected students had described the new circular ‘sexist’ adding that the university had no business to ‘control our lives and tell us where to go and when to go because we are staying in the Jamia hostels.’
The DCW has asked Professor Ahmed for furnishing the old guidelines regarding the female residents of Jamia hostels and how the university’s new circular was different. The Jamia VC has been asked to provide the details within seven days.