Published May 15, 2026 | 4:33 PM ⚊ Updated May 15, 2026 | 4:33 PM
Students alleged that no member of the NLSIU administration met them during the overnight protest.
Synopsis: Students at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in Bengaluru are protesting over severe infrastructure and safety issues, including irregular water supply, collapsing cement slabs, and severe overcrowding in hostels. Despite raising complaints for over seven months, students allege the administration has failed to act, with no officials meeting them during an overnight protest on 11 May.
Over the past few days, students at the National Law School of India University (NLSIU) in south-west Bengaluru, Karnataka have been protesting about infrastructure and safety concerns on campus, alleging prolonged inaction by the administration.
Students at the college—consistently ranked among India’s top law universities—said they had repeatedly raised complaints about the deteriorating condition of basic facilities, ranging from irregular water supply in hostels to large cement slabs collapsing into common areas.
However, they alleged that these concerns had gone unaddressed for several months.
“There is barely any space to walk. Many students already have respiratory issues, so the overcrowding and poor ventilation become a persistent health concern,” an NLSIU student.
On 11 May, students gathered at the campus basketball court at around 10 pm and continued their protest until nearly 4 am.
Students alleged that no member of the administration met them during the overnight protest.
“We have been raising these issues for at least the past seven months, but no concrete action has been taken so far. We pay substantial fees to study here, yet we are forced to live under constant stress due to the lack of basic facilities such as reliable drinking water,” a student told South First on condition of anonymity.
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Among the key issues highlighted by students was congestion in hostel rooms, along with a lack of adequate sanitation facilities.
Students alleged that there were only three toilets for 36 residents on a floor in the Narmada and Yamuna hostels.
Additionally, women’s residences have 93 bunk-bed rooms, compared with just 18 in the men’s residences.
Students alleged that the congestion had significantly affected living conditions.
“Most of the women’s hostel rooms were originally designed for two occupants, but they have now been converted into triple-sharing rooms without considering how cramped the spaces already were,” a student said.
Students alleged that the congestion had significantly affected living conditions. In several rooms, those assigned top bunks reportedly place their mattresses on the floor due to discomfort and poor ventilation.
“There is barely any space to walk. Many students already have respiratory issues, so the overcrowding and poor ventilation become a persistent health concern,” the student added.
Students also said the drinking water supply to the women’s hostel had been disrupted for several days.
They further observed that several near-miss incidents related to campus infrastructure had raised serious safety concerns.
In one such incident, a heavy cement slab reportedly collapsed in a commonly used area last month, though no one was injured.
In another incident, students alleged that a lift in one of the men’s hostels went into free fall from the second floor to the basement while two students were inside.
Concerns have also been raised regarding alleged harassment at off-campus accommodation provided by the university, located around 15 minutes from the main campus.
“There have been instances of men entering the accommodation without authorisation. In one case, a person at the reception allegedly entered girls’ rooms without their consent,” a student alleged.
Women students were also allegedly filmed without consent at the off-campus accommodation, according to Bar and Bench.
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Students said they had persuaded the Vice-Chancellor to attend an open house at the amphitheatre on Wednesday. However, they alleged that the interaction ended without any concrete assurances from the administration.
“‘I am only here to listen,’ is what he said during the open house,” a student claimed, adding that the VC did not respond to many of the concerns raised and eventually walked out while students were still speaking.
“The same night, we sent him a mail conveying our disappointment and urged him to respond within 24 hours,” the student said.
In response, the VC reportedly issued a mail stating that “any claim that we left ignoring a question is a deliberate misrepresentation”. The email further stated that the university had made “extraordinary” efforts over the previous 48 hours to ensure round-the-clock water supply across the campus.
However, students disputed the claim. “Even now, there is no water supply in the women’s hostel,” a student alleged.
They plan to send another mail to the VC, urging him to return with concrete assurances within five days. Among the solutions proposed by students are the removal of bunk beds from smaller rooms and the installation of air-conditioning units.
“We pay ₹1,30,000 for the accommodation. So these demands are not unreasonable,” the student said.
Students also urged the university to appoint a representative from the university and the hostel office at the off-campus accommodation to ensure safety and transparent communication.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
