Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice-Chancellor, National Law School of India University.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
After a sustained protest from the students, Sudhir Krishnaswamy, Vice-Chancellor, National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bengaluru, has responded to students’ grievances, promising infrastructural, administrative and vendor changes to deliver higher standards of service more consistently in the days ahead.
In an email sent to students after the meeting held on Thursday (May 14), the Vice-Chancellor acknowledged that 18 separate issues had been raised.
Accommodation concerns
Addressing the growing concern over hostel accommodation, the administration said the university’s residential capacity had expanded significantly, from approximately 530 students in 2020 to 1,693 students in 2026. The email stated that the addition of bunk beds in hostel rooms was based on room size and resource allocation rather than gender considerations.
The administration announced that hostel allocations for the 2026–27 academic year would be revisited as the students flagged the disproportionate gender impact. “On May 13, we paused the process of hostel room allocation, and we will explore reassigning hostels and securing new student residences outside campus. Students are invited to share their feedback with the Dean of Students over the next week,” the email stated.
Water shortage and power outage
The email also sought to reassure students about complaints regarding water shortages. According to the administration, additional maintenance staff have been deployed round-the-clock, inspections of water storage facilities have increased, and backup systems have been strengthened to address disruptions caused by power outages.
Security concerns around hostel boundary walls were also addressed in the email by the Vice-Chancellor, who noted that the CCTV cameras, increased patrolling, additional barbed wire, and vision-blocking sheets near the Yamuna Hostel were among the measures being implemented following earlier student complaints.
The administration promised “prompt and meaningful action” in the coming days, including infrastructural improvements and administrative reforms. It also pledged greater transparency and ongoing communication with students as the university attempts to defuse tensions on campus.
Suspended activities
In another email sent on Saturday (May 16), the Vice-Chancellor highlighted incidents that occurred between May 12 and May 15 during the protest by the students. The incidents were termed to have generated serious concerns about safety and security on campus and possible external interference.
The email noted activists of an external organisation, facilitated by some members of the student body, entering the campus on May 15; instances of disruption of workshops inside the campus by sloganeering; and involvement of police, among other things.
“These incidents, taken together, have created a situation in which the safety and orderly conduct of collective events can no longer be assured. We can all agree that the safety and security of the university community and the prevention of external interference and disruption by external actors are shared concerns at this moment,” the email further added.
The Vice-Chancellor stated that in order to maintain safety and security and a conducive environment for all members of the university community, all other activities on campus are temporarily on hold until further notice. This position will be reviewed at the end of next week. However, the email didn’t specify what activities will be on hold.
Published – May 16, 2026 11:07 pm IST
