On September 14, students at Himachal Pradesh National Law University (HPNLU) in Shimla organized a peaceful sit-in protest that concluded the same day, following a constructive response from the university administration. The protest, aimed at addressing several long-standing student grievances, prompted the university to issue a written commitment to resolve the issues.
The sit-in, announced in advance to the administration, was described by the students as a necessary measure after enduring prolonged ‘acute exhaustion and frustration’ due to unresolved concerns. Among the key issues were the implementation of a six-day academic week that disregarded student feedback from an official survey, the withdrawal of a previously granted 45-day attendance exemption for internships, a significant increase in backlog revaluation and re-examination fees, and substandard hygiene conditions in the mess facilities.
Notably, the re-examination fee at HPNLU Shimla had escalated by 400% within four months, adding to the students’ discontent. The sit-in commenced at 10 AM at the central mess area, and by 12:45 PM, university officials, including the Registrar and the Deans of Academic Affairs and Student Welfare, had met with student representatives. This engagement led to a swift written response from the Vice-Chancellor’s Secretariat.
The university’s written resolution outlined several commitments to address the students’ concerns. Classes will now operate from Monday to Saturday, with Saturdays dedicated to tutorials and seminars instead of regular lectures, thereby accommodating the students’ feedback. To improve hygiene standards, a student’s mess committee has been established. Additionally, the issue of increased fees has been forwarded to the university’s statutory bodies for deliberation in their forthcoming meeting.
Regarding the withdrawal of the internship attendance exemption, the administration cited the Bar Council of India (BCI) norms, which mandate 20 weeks of internship during the five-year integrated law course. The university advised students to individually approach the BCI for any potential relaxation on this matter.
