Azadi- Break the Curfew Movement: Kozhikode medical college students approach HC to end night curfew at women's hostel

Kozhikode: Opposing the discriminatory practice of the night curfew imposed on students at the ladies hostel of the Government Medical College (GMC) in Kozhikode, the students union of the college has decided to file a writ petition in the Kerala High Court against this curfew.  

Four students from the union are moving the petition under the banner of "Azadi- Break the Curfew Movement", days after a late-night protest was staged by the women on the campus on Wednesday. The students had also appealed to the college management against the sudden enforcement of the curfew. 

Also Read:Medical board likely to look into woman's death due to alleged medical negligence at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital

The move has come up recently after the arrival of the first year students. For women, there are three hostels on the campus, where there were no particular restrictions and students only had to enter their details in a movement register, for convenience of using the library, night duties, and using other facilities on the campus. However, the restrictions were imposed by the officials of the LX-4 Hostel where first and third-year students reside following new admissions. However, no such rule is imposed in the boys' hostel. 

The third-year students living residing in the Ladies Hostel are questioning and protesting the discriminatory and sexist action of the administration. In addition, various women's rights activists had been planning to hold a protest on Saturday around noon in front of the medical college to offer their support to the Azadi movement, reports the Hindu. 

Fiona Joseph, vice-chairperson of the Kozhikode Medical College union stated that one of their major demands is the provision of 24-hour reading room-library facilities and better security, including CCTV cameras in the hostel. Speaking to News9Live, Joseph said, "Safety is the major concern raised by authorities for implementing curfew. We don't understand how safety can be ensured by locking women. Ironically, the government, which encourages night walking as a campaign, imposes a 9.30 pm curfew for students through a circular. However, the curfew is enforced only for girls' hostels. The situation is the same for other hostels in the state." 

Talking about policing carried out by the warden, Joseph added, "They also maintain a late record book and alert parents about students who arrive late." Further, the college conducts a meeting of Parents Teachers Association (PTA) every time the students hold a protest. The students argue that this infringes upon their rights as individuals above 18 years of age who have the right to make decisions for themselves.

Joseph noted, "Students have varying needs. For group study or to watch a movie, these restrictions are a hindrance. At least during exam time, they should open common areas for unrestricted use. Also around 6 students are living in a room ideally meant for three. It is difficult to study in such a cramped space." 

The students' representatives, Kavya AK and Fiona Joseph met Kerala State Women's Commission on Thursday and submitted their complaint, who promised to look into the issue. The chairperson of the commission, P. Sathidevi said that curfew is unfortunate and the issue would be referred to the state government. 

The college authorities, however alleged that the stipulated curfew time for all hostels under the Kerala University of Health Sciences is 9 pm, which they had relaxed to 10 pm. The principal had also called for an emergency meeting to discuss this issue. 

University spaces have long emerged as spaces where students have held protests against the such discriminatory and sexist practice of imposing a curfew, which often was imposed only on women's hostel. Last year, 700 students belonging to Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital went on a protest against the night curfew imposed on the inmates of women's hostel, demanding that the authorities do away with the existing restrictions applied only for the residents of the ladies' hostels, which was previously reported by the Medical Dialogues team. 

Similarly, a Delhi-wide students movement, called "Pinjra Tod" was led by the students of Jamia Millia Islamia and Delhi university in 2016 where they protested against the restrictions imposed by their hostels, arguing that it violated their Right to Freedom, demanding that concepts of safety and security not be used to silence women's right to mobility and liberation. 

Also Read:700 Students of Kerala Medical College demand authorities to lift up Night Curfew on Women's Hostel