PATIALA: In yet another act reminding of medieval age and Taliban-like treatment of women, authorities at Punjabi University , Patiala, had locked entrances of all six girls' hostels on Holi , citing that opening of gates on the day of festival of colours could lead to 'nuisance' in the campus.

Girl students told TOI that authorities had put a ban on students leaving their hostels on Monday morning. Entrances of hostels remained closed for the entire day except for one hour when girls were allowed to venture out from 5.30 to 6.30 in the evening, they said. They also alleged that despite the relaxation of one hour in the evening, security guards lashed out at some of them after they found colours smeared on their faces.

When some girl students approached authorities requesting not to close the gates on Holi, they were told that it was an 'old tradition' followed for years and it was not possible for them to take a U-turn on the issue. Sarvir Kaur, a PhD scholar in the department of Punjabi, said a delegation of students had met senior varsity officials before Holi, requesting them that such a closure on the festival day was an assault on democratic rights of girls. "However, senior functionaries of the university responded that the tradition of locking girls inside the hostels during Holi was not new and had been going on since the past 40 years. Authorities refused to deliberate on our demand and even threatened strict action if any student violated the orders," said Sarvir, who is also vice-president of Democratic Students Organization 's (DSO) university unit.

"If authorities foresee nuisance on such occasions then why can't it be the other way round? Why they don't close entrances of all boys' hostels and let girls play Holi inside the campus? This is feudal mindset and intolerable in places like a university campus where girl students are mature enough to differentiate between right and wrong," she argued.

DSO president Satpal Singh also added that a delegation submitted a memorandum to university vice-chancellor and dean, students' welfare (DSW) on the issue but to no avail. Confirming that the entrances of all six girls' hostels were closed on Holi, DSW K S Dhillon said the step was taken considering security of girl students and the varsity had been following the rule since the past 10-15 years. "Hostels were closed keeping in mind security of girl students and to prevent any kind of nuisance on the campus. Misbehaviour with girls could have led to quarrels and clashes," Dhillon added.