Lucknow

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Lucknow

University administration is out to play moral police. The university on Wednesday issued an advisory for students ahead of Valentine’s Day, directing them to bring no outsiders to campus, exchange no gifts, only attend classes and head straight home.

Incidentally, V-day is a Sunday but the university clarified that the advisory will be applicable for preceding days.

Chief proctor Nishi Pandey said, “The advisory is meant for around the time (of V-Day). This is an academic institution where academic

needs to be maintained. Students are required not to bring anybody from outside to the campus, not allowed to make comments on people and not allowed to give gifts, because this is meant for academic work.”

The university’s advisory hasn’t gone down well with the student fraternity. “How can the university curb the freedom of expression of a student? Why can’t students celebrate V-Day, a day of love? The advisory shows the hypocrisy of the university. It teaches students to

love, not hatred, and then issues a set of instructions asking students not to celebrate love,” said Gaurav Awasthi, a student of MA composite history. He said the university had the right to ban entry of outsiders but questioned why students were restricted from exchanging gifts and talking to each other.

However, Pandey said the advisor neither amounts to moral policing nor was it curbing freedom.

“You (students) have the freedom to roam in parks and other

places. There is a place for celebration, the university is a place for academia. We don’t see the university as a place for recreational activity because a lot of people get fancy ideas around these occasions to make comments on random girls and give flowers and gifts to speak to a girl. This is not as per the university environment. In the mood of celebration, students tend to cross personal boundaries. These are only directives to not indulge in the said activities. If anybody is caught, he/she will be dealt with accordingly,” said Pandey.

Pursuing LLB, Neeraj Pandey said the university’s directives were no less than moral policing. “Why make a fuss of V-Day? Don’t girls and boys interact with each other on normal days? Then why impose such a restriction on V-Day. There is no harm in exchanging gifts and talking to each other,” Neeraj said.

The advisory, a spoilsport for those struck by

, has been in place for more than a decade.

“It’s like any other law. When society has stooped so low, the need was felt and these rules came into existence. Campuses have always been a happy place. Such rules come only when their need is felt,” said Pandey.

Students found without an identity card or fee receipt as

will not be allowed to enter the campus, say officials.

Boys have been warned strictly against passing remarks or luring girls with presents. If caught doing so, stringent action will be taken.

The university has clarified that like usual days, students are expected to focus on studies and attend classes properly. Once they finish, they should go back home immediately and not loiter on the campus, reads a notice issued by the administration.