SRCC, DTU get DCW notice over hostel rules

The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Thursday issued notices to seven universities and colleges, including Delhi Technological University and Shri Ram College of Commerce (SRCC), for having different entry and exit timings for boys and girls in their respective hostels. In May, DCW had issued notice to 23 universities and two institutes seeking to know their existing rules for availing hostel facilities along with the annual fee following allegations of gender discrimination.

The move came in the wake of the commission launching an enquiry into a report compiled by a student activist group called ‘Pinjra Tod,’ alleging that women faced discriminatory rules and living circumstances in hostel accommodations in Delhi.

“The commission has prima facie found different entry and exit timings in hostels for girls and boys in seven universities and colleges — Netaji Subhash Institute of Technology, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Jamia Hamdard, Jamia Milia Islamia, Shri Ram College of Commerce, Delhi Technological University, and Ayurvedic & Unani Tibbia College,” a DCW statement said.

“We have issued a notice to the principal and registrar of the same to explain reason for the discriminatory practice. Ten institutions have not provided any information till date to the commission and heads of the same have been summoned by the commission between November 1 and 3,” it added.

The commission also noted that twelve institutions — Keshav Mahavidyalaya, Ambedkar University, National Law University, Ramjas College, Indian Agricultural Research Institute, Shri Venkasteshwara College, University College for Medical Sciences, Jawahar Lal Nehru University, National School of Drama, Indian Institute of Foreign Trade, Maulana Azad Medical College and National Institute of Technology — have same timings of entry and exit for girls and boys. “We believe that there should be no discriminatory rules in the institutions on the basis of gender. We have also written to colleges to list out the challenges faced by them,” DCW chief Swati Maliwal said.