On July 5, students of Maharashtra National Law University (MNLU) in Nagpur initiated a protest to voice their grievances concerning the suppression of dissent, poor living conditions, arbitrary administrative practices, and lack of adequate support for internships and placements. The demonstration, which started on July 5, continued into the following day, from 9:30 am onwards. While some faculty members showed support, others discouraged participation in the protest.
The student body had previously submitted a representation to Vice-Chancellor Prof Vijender Kumar and the Registrar on July 5. A key issue highlighted was a clause within the University’s Academic Code of Conduct that labels hunger strikes, dharnas, gheraos, and sit-ins as misconduct. According to the students, the code fails to differentiate between disruptive acts and peaceful protests, thus infringing on their constitutional rights under Articles 19(1)(a) and 19(1)(b).
The representation also claimed that during open house sessions with the Vice-Chancellor, faculty members recorded the names of students who raised concerns. Additionally, it alleged insensitive remarks by senior officials, including the Registrar and Chief Warden, following an accident involving two students, which caused distress among the student community.
Campus Conditions and Safety Concerns
Students expressed discontent over the absence of a functional canteen on the main campus, with food deliveries being restricted to the hostel gate after 6 pm. They also reported a fire incident near the mess area that the Registrar did not address personally, and noted inadequate fire extinguishers in hostel and academic block floors. Furthermore, access to the academic block has been restricted, and formal hostel regulations remain unenforced.
Another major concern is the living conditions at the extended hostel campus in Dongargaon, where students have been residing since August 2025. Complaints include unreliable drinking water, frequent power outages, poor sanitation, and sightings of dangerous wildlife such as snakes and scorpions. Safety and privacy issues for women residents were also raised, citing incidents of inappropriate behavior by co-residents that have allegedly gone unaddressed.
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Transportation and Cultural Restrictions
On July 1, students faced transportation issues when only one bus was available to return them to Dongargaon from the main campus, leaving many stranded. They had to arrange their own transport, with some students even standing on the footboard of an overcrowded bus.
The representation also criticized restrictions on cultural events, noting that administrative authorities have banned DJ nights, disallowed event sponsorships, and mandated that cultural fests end by 9:30 pm. This has reportedly contributed to an increased number of students seeking counseling through the University’s mental health services.
Academic and Placement Concerns
Students highlighted the absence of a dedicated Placement Officer, which has placed the onus of securing internships and jobs entirely on them. They also expressed dissatisfaction with the University’s disciplinary actions in past incidents, such as a bottle-throwing event targeting a faculty member and a Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) raid, where students were left without institutional support during police proceedings.
In terms of academics, the students are seeking a review of the rule that prevents re-evaluation for exams failed by less than five marks, and clarity on the fee structure for the BA LLB (Hons. in Adjudication and Justicing) program during the apprenticeship semester.
The representation was submitted after exhausting internal channels for addressing these issues. Students requested a “professional consideration” of their concerns, amid fears of disciplinary action for raising these matters. They are drafting time-bound demands and have requested a meeting with the Vice-Chancellor and Registrar on July 6 at 2 PM. While the administration has proposed a closed-door meeting, students are advocating for an open discussion.
Attempts to contact MNLU Nagpur’s Vice-Chancellor for comments were unsuccessful at the time of publishing.
