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As per students, the Code of Conduct not distinguishing between disruptive conduct and peaceful protest, has imposed a chilling effect on their constitutional rights.
On July 5, students at the Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU), Nagpur, began demonstrating against what they see as the repression of dissent on campus, poor living conditions, arbitrary administrative actions, and insufficient assistance for internships and placements.
Protests beganj july 5. Some of the faculty members of the faculty members of the faculty members of the faculty members of the faculty members of the faculty members.
The objection comes after a statement made on July 5 to the Registrar and Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vijender Kumar.
A section of the University's Academic Code of Conduct that classifies hunger strikes, dharnas, gheraos, and sit-ins as misconduct being contested by the representatives. As per students, the Code of Conduct not distinguishing between disruptive conduct and peaceful protest has imposed a chilling effect on their rights under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b) of the Constitution. The representation further says that the names of students who raised concerns during Open House sessions with the Vice-Chancellor were scribbled down by academics in the room.
Additionally, it claims that following an accident involving two students, senior officials—including the Chief Warden and the Registrar—made offensive comments that upset the impacted students and their peers.
The representation continues by pointing out that food delivery is limited to the hostel gate after 6 p.m. and that the main campus has been without a working canteen for a long time. It also mentions a fire that occurred next to the mess, to which the Registrar did not personally respond, and claims that there are insufficient fire extinguishers on the floors of the academic block and dormitory. Students claimed that formal hostel norms are still not operationalized and that access to the academic block has been prohibited by a Registrar's order. Additionally, the representation claims that CCTV monitoring in the boys' hostel has been utilized to deter students from visiting each other's rooms throughout batches, and that wardens have questioned such students.
Living circumstances at the University's extended hostel campus in Dongargaon, where a group of students have been residing since August 2025, account for a significant portion of the representation. Students allege unstable drinking water, power interruptions and poor hygiene, along with recurrent sightings of snakes and scorpions. Concerns about women residents' safety and privacy are also brought up by the representatives, including reports of inappropriate behavior by other residents that students claim were ignored.
Regarding transportation, the representation mentions a July 1 occurrence in which, despite far greater numbers of students having traveled that morning, only one bus showed up in the evening to convey them back to Dongargaon from the main campus. Students reported that some were left stranded and had to pay for their own private transportation, while others were forced to stand on the footboard of a packed bus.
According to the representation, administrative authorities have prohibited DJ nights, prohibited event sponsorships, and mandated that cultural festivals end by 9.30 p.m. Students believe that this virtual non-existence of meaningful leisure events has led to a surge in the number of students seeking counselling through the University's mental health services.
The representation also highlights the lack of a specialized Placement Officer, which means that students are solely responsible for finding internships and employment. It characterizes as disproportionate the university's disciplinary response to other events, such as a bottle thrown at a faculty member and a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raid at an off-campus tea shop. The representation claims that during the ensuing police processes, students—some of whom were minors at the time—were left without institutional support.
Regarding academic issues, students have requested clarification on the fee heads assessed to BA LLB (Hons. in Adjudication and Justicing) program students during their apprenticeship semester when they are not on campus, as well as a review of the rule prohibiting re-evaluation for candidates who fail an exam by less than five marks.
According to the representation, it was only filed after all internal avenues for resolving the issues identified had been explored.
Citing students' fears of disciplinary action for voicing these concerns, the representative requests "professional consideration" of the issues that have been raised.
The Vice-Chancellor and the Registrar have been invited to a meeting at 2:00 PM on July 6 to deliver the time-bound requests that the students stated they are now writing.
Students stated that they are demanding an open meeting, despite the administration's request for it to take place behind closed doors.
Bar and Bench repeatedly sought comment from the VC of MNLU Nagpur. As of the time this piece was published, the VC had not commented.
