Male and female students barred from sitting together

In a bizarre diktat, the ZA Islamia College in Siwan, Bihar has issued a directive stating that boys and girls should not sit together. The college administration, in a letter dated Tuesday, explicitly stated that if male and female students are found sitting together or engaging in laughter and banter on the campus premises after class hours, their enrollment would be terminated. The letter was issued by the college’s principal, Idris Alam. ZA Islamia College is a minority institution, established under Sections 29 and 30, with the authority vested in the governing body, as mentioned in the issued letter.

Letter issued for discipline

This directive has sparked a significant outcry among the college students. It has generated intense discussion. Principal Idris Alam defended the decision, stating that the letter was issued to uphold discipline within the college. He explained that there had been instances of students congregating on campus without attending their classes, prompting this action to preserve a conducive educational environment.

Reason for the diktat

The catalyst for this move may have been a recent incident in Siwan where a video surfaced showing a physical fight between two female students. The dispute allegedly began in a classroom, stemming from a disagreement over a boyfriend and escalated to a public brawl on the streets. Both girls, wearing burqas, were seen kicking and punching each other in full public view. It is believed that the college administration issued this letter in response to this incident, aiming to curb such disruptions and maintain order on the campus.

Students ordered to not wear torn jeans

In a similar incident, students at Kolkata’s AJC Bose College protested against their principal’s requirement to sign an affidavit pledging not to wear torn or artificially distressed jeans to college, viewing it as an infringement on their freedom of expression. The principal defended the move, emphasising the need for decent attire. Last year, a similar advisory was issued.