MJ Library has separate reading rooms for men and women

Fully covered clothing is not the only rule one must follow before entering MJ Library — seating spaces for men  and women are separate. There is a ‘unisex’ area, but the unspoken rule is that men and women cannot sit next to each other.

Regulars claim the rule came into force six months ago. Librarian Bipin Modi was unavailable for comment.

“I needed my classmate’s help when I was working on my final thesis. But, since she was a girl we weren’t allowed to talk to each other inside the library. Even exchanging notes was banned,” recalls Shakeel Shaikh, a regular.

Another reader, Rehana Qureshi says, “While renovating the library, they constructed separate study rooms for men and women — upper floor for women and ground for men.”

Standing committee chairman Pravin Patel expressed his surprise that the library followed discriminatory practices.

“In today’s time, there should not be such discrimination based on gender. I will visit the library and try to understand the reason why such rules have been imposed. Men and women should be able to study together,” Patel noted.