The Utkal university law college. Picture by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar; Sept. 30: Students of Utkal university law college today locked up the main gate of the institute, protesting against the authorities’ decision to ask them to vacate the hostel.

The authorities issued a notice denying permission to 30-odd students of the five integrated law courses, citing that they had ushered in violence on the campus. In March, two students’ groups belonging to integrated law courses indulged in a clash over a minor issue. Complaints were lodged against each other and there were allegations that the groups used to allow outsiders in the hostel.

The students today also gheraoed the principal’s office for more than three hours, apart from burning tyres and shouting slogans. Earlier, the authorities had asked the students to vacate the hostel on August 1. But, as the students had refused to comply with the order, a second notice was issued on September 26.

“We will not move out of the hostel. It’s our right to stay here,” said Bismay, a student.

The hostel-6 on the varsity campus is meant for the integrated students and has 30 seats. While some students have left the campus after being issued the notice, a few others have decided to fight back.

The fresh batch of students, who enrolled this year, were not allotted a single seat in the hostel. “This is sheer injustice and we will not let this happen. We will not leave the hostel at any cost,” said Manoj, another student.

However, the college authorities have made it clear that the students would have to leave the hostel.

In another development, another group of students has demanded that the students’ union polls be held. The authorities had cancelled it fearing trouble on the campus. On September 27, the students had gheraoed the PG council chairman’s office for more than five hours. The group has made it clear that they would approach the judiciary if the authorities did not announce the polls.