DTU permits girls' hostel to close at 11 pm

New Delhi: After the Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) served a notice to the Delhi Technological University (DTU) for its “discriminatory” timings” of the girls' hostel, the varsity has rolled back the same. In a reply to the notice, the varsity said that it has changed the discriminatory timings and now the timings of both boys and girls' hostels are the same. 

Earlier the closing time for girls’ hostel was 9 pm, while the boys’ hostel would close by 11 pm. When asked, the reason cited was that the timing for the girls’ hostel was so fixed, keeping in view the safety of the girls. Swati Jaihind, the DCW chairperson, had issued a notice to the DTU in this regard. She said it was not fair to put the onus of security on the girls and discriminate against them. 

As per the DTU's reply, “Your (DCW chief) point is well taken and accordingly, the meeting of the wardens' council has been convened to discuss the matter. Based on the recommendations of the warden council, the DTU has decided to extend the girls' hostel timing up to 11p.m. within the DTU campus from next academic session.” 

“If there are security concerns, the university management, women's commission and the police should work together instead of imposing the said timings against the girls,” she said. 

The DCW chief also wrote a letter to the police outlining the security concerns raised by the university management. Ms Jaihind urged the police to make the environment around the campus safe so that girls are free to move about at any time.