They demanded to convene the meeting as they did not have a water dispenser, a fridge and only 3 washing machines were working at Sabarmati hostel. (Photo: Pixabay/Representational)

CHENNAI: The Hostel Disciplinary Committee (HDC) of IIT Madras has slapped a fine of  Rs 20,000 on a student with a claustrophobic condition for sleeping on the sofa. The MS scholar who has fear of confined places was also made to shift her hostel for the offence.

According to the students in the hostel, the issue began when 139 female residents of Sabarmati hostel in IIT Madras had signed a memorandum for a General Body Meeting to impeach the then general secretary (Swathi R) of the hostel according to the constitution of IIT Madras and its hostel management rules. They demanded to convene the meeting as they did not have a water dispenser, a fridge and only 3 washing machines were working at Sabarmati hostel.

“A group of 10 girls went to meet the dean of students, IIT Madras regarding the hostel issues on September 26, 2017. Instead of solving the issue, the dean had asked my guide not to allow me to involve in any hostel matters,” a PhD scholar and a resident of Sabarmati hostel said.