Savitribai Phule Pune University has changed the leadership of its girls’ hostel after hundreds of students protested over an alleged security breach, concerns about complaint handling and a dispute involving a late-pass. Chief Rector Soniya Nagrale has resigned, while Assistant Chief Rector Pravin Talat has been removed from the post, according to information reported by Pune Mirror.
The protest began in the early hours of Monday after students sought answers from university authorities about allegations that three male students from the Education Department entered the girls’ hostel premises after 10.30 pm and misbehaved with a female student. The allegations, involving Pramod Rathod, Omkar Thore and Vijay Kamble, and the status of any police investigation could not be independently verified from the information available.
Students also questioned the hostel administration’s response after a disagreement over a late-pass. The administration allegedly refused to open the gate when some students returned from the police station, prompting further unrest. More than 300 students reportedly approached Chaturshrungi Police Station at around 3.30 am to raise their concerns and lodge a complaint.
After returning to the campus, the students gathered near the hostel, raised slogans and climbed the gates while seeking intervention from senior university officials. Their demands included stronger campus security, action on the alleged incident and accountability for the way their complaints had been handled.
During discussions with the students, the university announced an interim change in the hostel’s administration. Geeta Shinde, head of the Education Department, will oversee the functioning of the girls’ hostel under the temporary arrangement. The Vice-Chancellor also reportedly assured the students that the arrangement would involve direct reporting to him, the Registrar and the Pro-Vice-Chancellor, without an intermediate reporting structure.
The university has initiated disciplinary steps against two students named in the complaint by barring them from entering their departments and the girls’ hostel while the matter is examined. SPPU is also expected to approach the police, while a senior-level panel will examine the allegations and the issues raised by the students. The panel may include a judge or legal experts, although its final composition and terms of reference had not been confirmed in the supplied information.
The issue was raised with university leadership on October 12, when students submitted a written representation seeking action. University representatives said a high-level committee would be formed to examine their concerns. Students, however, sought concrete measures rather than assurances alone, keeping the focus on how hostel complaints are recorded, escalated and resolved.
The latest protest follows earlier concerns about conditions at the girls’ hostel mess. Previous reports said an inspection by the Food and Drug Administration led to the suspension of the mess licence over concerns related to food quality and contamination. The university’s next steps are the formation of the review panel, the police process and the implementation of the temporary hostel reporting arrangement.
