PIL on hostel for DU students: High Court seeks varsity reply

The Delhi High Court on Monday sought response of Delhi University on a PIL alleging that there is a grave disparity between the number of students admitted in the varsity and the hostel accommodation available for them. The petition has sought directions to DU to immediately take steps for providing hostel accommodation to all the regular students, especially those belonging to the weaker section of society, who are studying there.

A Bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice Jayant Nath asked the counsel for the varsity to take instructions with regard to the issues raised in the petition and listed the matter for further hearing on July 18. The plea by Praveen Kumar Singh, a former DU student, has said that since building new infrastructure would take time, the varsity be directed to take certain short term steps, like providing Rs 10,000 stipend to those students who do not get hostel, turning single occupancy rooms to double occupancy and opening hotel messes for the non-resident students. The petition has also sought directions to the Delhi government and the Centre to “declare the area in and around the five kilometer radius of DU “south Campus and North campus” as a special students zone where a minimum rent is fixed for the accommodation for the students”. Singh has suggested that DU can rent residential accommodations in the area around the campus “to help students find accommodation at right place and at the right price”.