Moral policing spoils fun night at IIT-Madras

April 6, 2012

madras


Chennai, April 6: Indian Institute of Technology-Madras has introduced a new moral code of conduct on campus, prompting protests by students who believe that the authorities are playing spoilsport. The code seeks to put curbs on the annual 'hostel night', when students are allowed to bring in friends and make merry without the prying warden around.

Among the rules that the students were notified about is: "You should keep your door open when guests are inside on hostel night." It is a once-a-year custom in all IITs when students are allowed to bring guests to their rooms.

When the students protested, IIT-M called a general body meeting on March 26, which turned out to be a stage for hot arguments and moralizing by many faculty members.

At the meeting, a senior faculty member referred to the disagreement over the new open-door rule. "What do you want to do in that private space?" he asked a student who said hostel day should provide some private space. The student answered, "I want to talk to my friends," sending the audience into splits. The faculty member replied, "Students should behave as if their parents are with them."

Probably unaware of the Supreme Court observation that it is not a crime for a man and a woman to live together without being married, a senior professor, who represents the hostel wardens, said premarital relationships were not allowed under Indian laws. So, he said, the doors should remain open, and celebrations should end at 10.30pm.

Students are upset over IIT-M move to put curbs on hostel night celebrations. A student commented: "I forgot we are adults and mature enough to decide on sex and relationships." A final-year student said it is unfortunate that an institution which stood for progressive thoughts was getting involved in moral policing.

Dean L S Ganesh said the new rules were not to curb the students' freedom, but to maintain order.

"Relationships are individual choice and I don't believe that premarital relationships are an offence. The statement by the professor was made in a different context," he said.


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News Network
July 20,2020

Kozhikode, Jul 20: A 17-year old boy died of head injuries while trying to protect his mother from being assaulted by his drunk father here, police said on Sunday.

The youngster suffered the fatal injury after his head hit against the door when his father shoved him at their home on Saturday. Venu, had come home in an inebriated state and picked up a quarrel with his wife and started beating her up, they said.

On seeing this, Alan tried to intervene. Though the boy was rushed to the hospital, his life could not be saved, they added. Venu was arrested and a case has been registered.

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Agencies
January 16,2020

Cuttack, Jan 16: At least 15 passengers were injured as five coaches of the Mumbai-Bhubaneswar Lokmanya Tilak Express derailed and three more were displaced after colliding with a goods train amid heavy fog near Cuttack in Odisha on Thursday, railway officials said.

Railway officials had earlier said that 25 passengers were injured in the incident but later officers who reached the site reported that four passengers were found to have suffered major injuries and 11 had received minor injuries.

Passengers with major injuries have been sent to Cuttack Medical College. All passengers are stated to be out of danger.

Officials said the accident happened when the passenger train hit the guard van of a good train around 7 am between Salagaon and Nergundi stations.

The officials said there was heavy fog at the site but it was not clear what led to the accident. The speedometer of both the trains have been seized for inquiry, East Coast Railway Spokesperson J P Mishra said.

Buses have been arranged for all remaining passengers to move towards their destination.

Cuttack is around 10-12 km away and Bhubaneswar(Terminating station) is 35 km.

The accident disrupted train services in the area.

Five trains have been affected due to the accident where restoration work in underway. These include the Bhubaneswar-Mumbai LTT SF Express, the Puri-Rourkela Express, Dhanbad-Bhubaneshwar Rajyarani Express which have all been diverted via Naraj.

"East Coast Railway acknowledges with deep gratitude help of nearby locals and villagers who have displayed great humanitarian values and come to the rescue of injured passengers," Mishra said.

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News Network
July 4,2020

Kolkata, Jul 4: Two people were killed and around four injured when the bombs they were allegedly manufacturing went off inside a house in Murshidabad district, a senior police officer said on Saturday.

Their identities were yet to be established as the condition of those injured and undergoing treatment at a hospital was still "critical", he said.

The thatched roof of the house, where they were allegedly making bombs, also blew off in the explosion, which occurred at Suti town in Jangipur subdivision of the district around 9:00 pm on Friday, the officer said.

The house has been damaged completely, and its owner is on the run, he said.

As of now, the wife of the house owner is being questioned in connection with the incident, the officer added.

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