Rehan Khan
The week-long protest by students of National Law University, Odisha (NLUO) came to an end today, with the Student Council expressing feelings of exhaustion, hopelessness, and disappointment.
The demonstration which began on January 24, was in response to various concerns, including the administration’s policy on mandatory evaluation of tutorial classes, inadequate infrastructure—particularly the lack of functional toilets, limited access to offline academic resources, and insensitivity toward mental health challenges. The issuance of show-cause notices to students raising grievances further fueled discontent.
Tensions escalated when the university administration labeled the students’ demands as “illegal, unlawful, and unreasonable,” asserting that the protest was disrupting crucial university events. However, in an attempt to restore a conducive academic atmosphere, the administration later withdrew its statement.
During the Republic Day celebrations on January 26, Chancellor and Orissa High Court Acting Chief Justice Arindam Sinha acknowledged the protest and assured students that their concerns would be addressed. He scheduled a meeting with the Student Council for February 3 and urged them to call off the protest.
A Review Commission visited the campus on January 27 and held discussions with student representatives the following day. However, the meeting yielded no concrete resolutions, as the Commission lacked the authority to implement reforms.
Vice-Chancellor Prof. Ved Kumari, in response to the students’ grievances, announced interim relief measures, including the cancellation of the tutorial evaluation policy and the decision to keep the academic block open 24/7. Additionally, an office order issued on January 28 appointed a supervising authority to oversee sanitation and maintenance of the academic building.
While students welcomed these immediate changes, they emphasized that the core issue remained unresolved—the inadequate construction and functionality of toilets.
Why Was the Protest Called Off?
On January 29, student representatives met with faculty members, who assured them that their concerns would be taken into account, provided the protest was discontinued. The students, hopeful that the upcoming February 3 meeting with the Chancellor will address the unresolved issues surrounding academic policies, mental health support, and infrastructure, have resumed their classes.
With interim measures in place, students now await long-term solutions to the systemic issues they have brought to light.