Students of National Law School of India University staged a massive overnight protest on campus this week, raising concerns over deteriorating hostel facilities, water shortages, overcrowding, and alleged administrative neglect. The protest began late at night near the university basketball court and reportedly continued until around 4 a.m., with hundreds of students participating.
According to students, the immediate trigger for the demonstration was the repeated lack of water supply in hostel blocks, particularly in women’s hostels. Protesters claimed several residents had no drinking water or functioning washrooms for hours. However, students said the agitation reflected deeper frustrations that had been building for months over unsafe infrastructure and worsening living conditions.
Students alleged that hostel overcrowding had increased sharply following the university’s expansion of student intake in recent years. Rooms originally meant for two students were reportedly converted into triple-sharing rooms using bunk beds. Several students described the rooms as “matchbox-sized” and complained about poor ventilation, limited washroom access, and malfunctioning fans. Some students also alleged that ceiling chunks had fallen in hostel washrooms and that a hostel lift had recently plunged two floors, raising serious safety concerns.
Women students additionally accused the administration of unequal treatment in hostel allocation and infrastructure planning. Protesters claimed there were major differences between facilities available in men’s and women’s hostels. Concerns about inadequate boundary walls, security issues, and alleged incidents of harassment were also raised during the protest.
The students demanded direct intervention from Vice-Chancellor Sudhir Krishnaswamy and sought immediate solutions instead of delayed written responses. Reports suggest the Vice-Chancellor later attended an open-house meeting but reportedly declined to answer questions directly, promising written responses within several days. This further intensified dissatisfaction among students.
The incident has sparked wider discussion across Bengaluru’s education sector about campus infrastructure, student welfare, and the challenges institutions face while rapidly expanding admissions.
