The recent protest in the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur which ended yesterday is an example that how the voice of resistance is always tried to chop off in an academic institution which has been established to make their students fearless and just advocates of tomorrow.  The Vice Chancellor Dr. Sukhpal Singh had to step down from his post after the students started their indefinite hunger strike on October 1^st, 2018. There were various issues of financial irregularities, professional misconduct, dictatorial attitude and the in-active and negligent of approach of the Vice-Chancellor upon the complaint of sexual harassment by a girl student on the professor.

In the case of Dr. Avinash Samal v. State of Chhattisgarh, Hon’ble Chhattisgarh High Court quashed the extension of Dr. Singh’s tenure. The students in accordance and due respect to the High Court’s judgment demanded removal of Dr. Singh as the VC.

Now after this, the Chancellor of the varsity appointed Mr. Ravi Shankar Sharma- Principal Secretary of Law, State of Chhattisgarh as the interim Vice Chancellor of the HNLU.

Further on September 20^th, 2018 the Hon’ble Supreme Court stayed the order of the Chhattisgarh High Court and thus, the tenure of Dr. Sukhpal Singh was extended accordingly.

On September 25^th, 2018 Dr. Singh rejoined the HNLU as its VC. Around 800 students of the university signed a no-confidence letter against reinstatement of Dr. Singh as the Vice Chancellor on the grounds of his being arbitrary and discriminative in the decision making.

The students started their protest in this regard which lasted more than a week and on October 1^st, 2018 they decided to go on indefinite hunger strike with the three major demands:

1. Removal of Dr. Sukhpal Singh from the post of Vice Chancellor.
2. Access to the Audit Report of the University.
3. Formation of a Review Committee that will review the provisions of the HNLU Act.

On October 1^st, 2018 lately Dr. Singh resigned as the Vice Chancellor of the Hidayatullah National Law University, Raipur.

The protest of the students of HNLU has shown that what kind of situation the student community is facing in this era. We can easily find people like Dr. Sukhpal Singh in every sphere of our life acting as the unwanted hindrances. The kind of moral policing and the fascist approach that is being used in the academic institution is definitely unacceptable. However, this protest gathered support from social media and various NLUs like- NLSIU, NALSAR and NLUD issued solidarity statements with the HNLU Students Bar Association.

Legal Desire salutes the enthusiasm and valour of the students of HNLU and extends its best wishes for the revolution they have brought in the mindset of the law students.

Vive la revolution!