Separate seats for veg, non-veg students: IIT Kharagpur scraps controversial hostel order

Kolkata: The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has rolled back a controversial order that had introduced segregated seating in hostel dining halls for vegetarian and non-vegetarian students, following criticism from boarders and alumni.

The August 16 notice, issued at B R Ambedkar Hall of Residence, had instructed boarders to occupy separately earmarked seats depending on whether they ate vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals. The move sparked outrage, with many students calling it discriminatory and divisive.

Institute director Suman Chakraborty told PTI that the order was revoked immediately once higher authorities became aware of it. “The moment he came to know about the decision, it was scrapped following immediate consultation with others in the higher authority of the institute,” he said.

He further stressed that no signage demarcating such segregation should exist anywhere in the hostels. “There should not be any such signage to segregate students assembled at the dining hall based on their culinary choice. We have ordered that such signage be removed in whichever dining hall it remains with immediate effect,” Chakraborty said.

On September 8, a new circular directed all hall wardens that segregation, if any, should be limited to food preparation and distribution, not seating. “There must not be any such segregation for seating in the dining hall,” the institute clarified.

The original order had reportedly followed complaints by a section of vegetarian students who objected to non-vegetarian meals being consumed at the same tables. However, IIT Kharagpur has made it clear that such practices have no place on campus.

“On principle, there cannot and should not be such segregation anywhere,” the director reiterated.