General hostel of BJB Autonomous College in Bhubaneswar. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, May 18: Five days after students of BJB Junior College urged the college authorities to allow them to stay in the hostel during the summer vacation, principal, S.N. Mohanty said a decision “favouring the students” would be taken in the next two days.

Speaking to The Telegraph, Mohanty said he had “sympathetically considered the grievances of the students” and consulted with “higher authorities” regarding the issue.

Nearly 30 boarders had aired their grievances before the college authorities on May 13 after a notice was issued saying that the hostels would remain closed from May 14 to June 18.

The students sought hostel accommodation as they had taken admission in a city-based coaching centre and the classes were scheduled to begin in a week’s time. However, they had been allowed to stay in the hostels until a final decision was taken.

“My earlier decision not to allow students to stay back in the hostel was in compliance with the official rules and regulations. But I understand this is an exceptional case. They have not been able to make arrangements for alternative accommodation and are staying back for education purposes,” said Mohanty.

The principal said that last evening he had met some “higher authorities” who had left the decision to him. He added that he would further discuss the issue with the college Residents’ Committee, which looks into the affairs of the hostel and boarders.

“Since the students have peacefully appealed to me to reconsider my decision, I will take a view in their favour. However, as there would be no supervisor or caretaker at the hostel during the vacation, we will impose certain terms and conditions to avoid any untoward incident. As agreed earlier, the mess would remain closed and they have to make their own arrangements for food,” Mohanty said.

After the news reached the boarders, they heaved sighs of relief. “We are extremely grateful to the college authorities for understanding our situation and reposing trust in us. Finding an alternative accommodation would have been a costly and tedious affair,” said a first-year student.

“We are just waiting for the principal’s decision to be officially confirmed. Since he has decided to take a pro-student view, we would try our best to ensure that nothing goes wrong,” another student said.