NEW DELHI: The Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) on Tuesday slapped a showcause notice on the Jamia Millia Islamia University, which had recently barred inmates of its women's hostel from having late nights.
In a notice issued, the university had also asked the girls staying in its hostel to take written permission from their local guardians for staying out after 8 pm.
"It has been observed that no such guidelines have been issued by the other universities and even in Jamia Millia the rules seem to have been framed only for girls and not for boys, thereby raising allegations of discrimination," DCW chief Swati Maliwal said in a communication to Vice-Chancellor Talat Ahmed.
The women inmates of its hostel were earlier allowed to stay out till 10 pm twice a month. However, now the girls, who wish to stay out a little longer than 8 pm, have to take the written permission from their local guardians, in the absence of which they would not be allowed to return to the hostel for the night.
Many sections of the society and various NGOs have termed the new diktat "partial".
"Residents of the Hall of Girls are informed that no late nights are allowed any more. You are, therefore, required to follow the norms, in your own best interests," stated a notice issued by the university earlier.
The DCW has also sought an explanation from the V-C on imposing such restrictions on girl students, while asking him to submit to it copies of the previous as well as revised guidelines within seven days.
The university authorities, who have been maintaining that the directive has not been "appropriately construed", said they were looking into the matter.
"We are looking into the matter and we will respond to the DCW within the stipulated time. We issued the notice in the best interests of the girl students, keeping in mind the security and safety concerns. However, we do not wish to curtail anyone's freedom or basic rights. The message has not been appropriately construed," said a university official.