The horrifying news of the gang-rape of a 22-year-old student in Mysuru’s Chamundi foothills has left citizens shocked. This was followed by a few Karnataka ministers victim-blaming the woman which sparked nationwide outrage.
Adding to this, the University of Mysore has issued a circular prohibiting the movement of female students within the campus after 6.30 PM, reports TOI. However, no restrictions have been placed on male students.
Female students were also barred from entering the Kukkarahalli Lake premises, which spans over 250-acres with thick vegetation. Further, extra security personnel has been allotted who would patrol the campus between 6 PM and 9 PM every day.
According to ABP, the circular also bans female students from sitting anywhere inside the campus after 6.30 The Vice-Chancellor of the university said that the guidelines have been issued keeping in mind the “safety” of female students.
The university’s decision has been widely criticized, both by female students of the institution and people online.
According to TNIE, a female research scholar from the Department of Environmental Sciences said, “As research scholars, we can’t work in a time-bound manner. Now, we have to stop research work, like referring to books in the library, by 6.30 PM as per the circular. The varsity should have taken students into confidence and sought their opinion before issuing the circular.”
Another student said, “We talk about women empowerment, equality…but the circular is only for women.”
Have a look at the circular here:
Circular also says public prohibited from entering Kukkarahalli lake (which is in the university premises) after 6.30pm. pic.twitter.com/yiDJTG99MJ
— Revathi Rajeevan (@RevathiRajeevan) August 28, 2021
Here’s how some people online responded to the restrictions:
In any normal country movement of boys will be monitored as they are the ones who committed the crime but here we are banning girls, the victims
— Varun (@airravata) August 28, 2021
Instead should have been – Days after the gang-rape of a student in Mysore, University of Mysore issues circular prohibiting movement of boys alone or in groups on campus after 6.30pm. Boys cannot move around alone or be seated on the Manasagangothri campus, says the circular.
— Jyoti Tathgur (@JyotiTathgur) August 28, 2021
Wow.. Welcoming move. This should be implemented in every universities. But we should raise the bar little bit. I would suggest that why don’t we offer the online classes for girl students?There is a famous saying, If you hide the comb, the wedding would be stopped automatically
— Dr.நக்கீரன் MBBS மேல ஒரு கோடு (@_D_Resist) August 28, 2021
Wow this is outrageous, I went to college long time ago at manasagangothri and never had to fear like this. Really is that all the management can do, suppress the girls? I suggest locking up the other species which will make everyone safe!
— meeti78 (@nimkumar78) August 28, 2021
If the University cared for equality, they should have said ‘students’ instead of girls.
— SanthanamVaidya (@sanvai) August 28, 2021
So basically the girls are continued to get punishment for no fault of theirs!!
— Pooots (@pooja_bandu) August 28, 2021
Regressive!
Imagine the outrage if this was done to boys instead of girls! Folks would have been furious!— Amit Ganguli 𐎠𐎷𐎰𐏐𐎥𐎴𐎦𐎱𐎠𐎮𐎹𐎠𐎹 (@amit_ganguli) August 28, 2021
Every institute is doing all it can to end democracy and freedom in the country. Instead of protesting and raising voice against the crime they are putting restrictions on themselves. Giving more power to evil I guess.
— Anil Singh (@Terrible_asingh) August 28, 2021
Is it fair for female students to have restrictions imposed on them when male students don’t?