Mumbai University removes late night curfew for female students in campus hostels

Starting Wednesday, Mumbai University has decided to remove the rules prohibiting female students from staying out late night away from their hostel.

According to a report in Hindustan Times, university chancellor, Sanjay Deshmukh, sent out a letter to the students announcing that from now on the curfew rules will be same for boys and girls.

Over 200 female students occupy three varsity-ran hostels in the city. The students raised the discriminatory issue with the university authorities and Women Development Cell of the varsity. Based on UGC's 2013 guidelines, issued under the title of Saksham, the students argued the case for easy movement and safety of women on campuses.

The older rule on hostel campuses needed students to get a late-pass if they wanted to reach hostel after 10 pm and a night-pass if they wanted to stay out the night. But for women, even after getting the night-pass the curfew limit was 11.30 pm. They were also allowed a maximum of two night-out passes and five late-night passes while there were no such rules for boys hostels, reports the daily.

The new rules will allow students to leave campus late night. But they will have to sign undertakings making the students responsible their own safety outside the boundaries of the campus. Students will also have to inform the authorities about leaving the campus late in the night and they will have to carry their identity cards when away from their rooms.