Students write complaint, demanding relaxation of arbitrary fines that vary in amount for trivial offences, including not attending prayer sessions, spending time with co-eds.Hostelites of Somaiya College in Vidyavihar are up in arms against what they call “an arbitrary fining system” imposed on them by the college management.According to students the most outrageous fines being imposed on them are those for proximity between students of the opposite sex, and attending prayer sessions.The over 300 students of the polytechnic hostel from various disciplines say they have no problem with rules per se, but with the rampant fining system, and point out that the amount of the fine often differs for trivial things.On Tuesday, several students dashed off a letter to hostel incharge Sundarrajan T S, demanding a relaxation in fines.According to students, the rule list runs long, and that of offences inviting fines even more so. Heavy fines, they allege, are imposed even for trivial things, and have increased considerably since new male and female wardens took charge a couple of years ago.As per rules, curfew is imposed at 10 pm when students must assemble for prayers. But students say that they belong to different religions and this should not be compulsory.“I tried telling the warden that my religion doesn’t allow me to worship other gods, and it makes me uncomfortable to chant hymns of Goddess Saraswati. But she wouldn’t excuse me,” said a student, adding that she was fined Rs 200 last semester for not attending prayer sessions despite being in the hostel. Another student said she was fined Rs 500 for the same offence.Another rule forbids male and female students to sit together, or spend time in the campus. “Even if we speak to a girl for 10 minutes, a warden will come and ask us what we’re doing. Though we’re just chatting, they say we shouldn’t do anything we can’t do in front of our parents,” said a male student. Hostelites claim that for such ‘offences’ they are fined Rs 250 the first time, Rs 500 the second, and the third time their parents are summoned.“While entering an elevator some time ago, we were seven people instead of six. The warden saw us and fined us Rs 200 each,” said a third year student who requested anonymity.He added that few months ago he approached the warden for a rule book but wasn’t given one. “The warden told me there was no such rule book. The rules have always been there, and we don’t have a say in the matter.”According to students, at the end of each semester they are issued receipts for fines, but the offence is never specified.When Mumbai Mirror contacted Padmaja B Bandaru, the principal, she said the hostel has regulations for safety and security of students. “As at any hostel, we have a deadline and students have to be in at 10 pm. The prayer sessions are part of the assembly and reporting process, and students must be present for a head count. This is also when announcements are made, hence attendance is important,” said Bandaru. She added that students have complete freedom not to say the prayers if they wish not to.Regarding fines, Bandaru said, “Certain fines are imposed as deterrents and for maintaining order, safety and security. These are normal hostel practices.”Confirming receipt of the students’ complaint, Bandaru said the grievances will be addressed in due course.