Savitribai Phule Pune University has accepted the resignation of the chief rector of its girls’ hostel and removed the assistant chief rector after hundreds of students protested over alleged harassment, hostel security and restrictions on late-night movement.
The protest began in the early hours of Monday, October 12, after students sought an explanation from the university administration over an incident near the girls’ hostel and the handling of a late-pass dispute. The students also questioned how their complaints had been addressed and demanded guarantees for the safety of hostel residents.
According to the protesting students, a resident who had left the hostel for medical reasons was allegedly questioned and harassed near the hostel by three to four male students. The students further alleged that the group followed her and entered the hostel premises after 10.30 pm, when male entry is prohibited. The allegations have not been independently established, and the university has ordered an inquiry.
The university’s official statement said two students had attempted to pressure a female student by asking her inappropriate questions outside the women’s hostel. It said the administration was filing a police complaint and had immediately barred the two students from entering their academic department and the hostel premises. The university said a high-level committee appointed by the vice-chancellor would investigate the incident and that disciplinary action would follow if the students were found responsible.
The protest escalated after some students returning from the police station were allegedly denied access through the hostel gate, according to the report. More than 300 students reportedly went to Chaturshringi police station at around 3.30 am to raise their complaints and discuss filing a complaint. After returning to the campus, they gathered near the hostel entrance, raised slogans and demanded the intervention of senior university officials.
Following discussions with the students, the university announced changes to the hostel’s management. Geeta Shinde, head of the education department, is expected to take temporary charge of the girls’ hostel. Vice-Chancellor Suresh Gosavi told the students that the new arrangement would not have an intermediate administrative layer and that hostel operations would be reported directly to the vice-chancellor, registrar and pro-vice-chancellor.
Gosavi said the decision to remove assistant chief rector Praveen Talat was taken after internal discussions, following which chief rector Sonia Nagarale’s resignation was received and accepted. He also said the students concerned had been suspended and that a legal committee would be formed to examine the matter. The final composition and terms of reference of the proposed committee had not been clarified in the report.
Students, however, sought greater clarity on the administrative decisions and questioned whether responsibility would be fixed for the alleged failure to address their complaints earlier. They said they wanted concrete safety measures rather than assurances while the inquiry continues.
The hostel administration has faced earlier complaints as well. The report said the Food and Drug Administration had previously suspended the dining facility’s licence after concerns were raised about food quality and possible contamination. The latest dispute has therefore brought together questions about physical security, access controls, complaint redressal and administrative accountability within the university’s residential system.
The university said it would consider the students’ concerns during the inquiry and take strict action against anyone found responsible. A police complaint and the high-level investigation are the next formal steps described by the administration.
