St Stephen's students allege they were denied hostel accommodation for protesting college's autonomy issue

Scores of students at Delhi University's St Stephen's college on Thursday alleged that they have not been allotted hostel accommodation for staging protests against the college's decision to apply for autonomy.  

They alleged that the college has arbitrarily released the list of allottees. "Students' opinions on the autonomy issue has been considered as the primary criteria for allotting the hostel accommodation. Those who have been vocal about their objection of the granting of autonomous status to the college and questioned the autocratic functioning of the present administration were purposely not granted residence even though they have met the criteria considered for it," the students said in a statement.

The officials at the college, however, have denied the allegations. "Accommodation have been allotted following the standard criteria at Stephen's. The allegations levelled by students against the administration are baseless," a senior official at the college said. Despite several attempts, the Dean of Residence did not respond to requests for a comment. 

Hostel accommodation at St Stephens is allotted on a yearly basis, after an interview. According to a student, who failed to get the accommodation, when students reached out to the Dean of Residence for an explanation, he said "the heavens were not kind to you." 

Later in the day, students also boycotted the hostel mess as a mark of protest. "360 out of 400 hostel residents boycotted the dinner," a student said.

Students at St Stephens college recently staged several protests against what they refer as the administration's "autocratic" decision to apply for autonomy from Delhi University. "A college official also asked us how could we expect residence after protesting outside the principal's office," said another student, adding that a large number of seats are still vacant at the hostel.