On Wednesday, members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) staged a protest against the move. (Express archive photo)Delhi University’s Ramjas College has announced that its boys’ and girls’ hostels will remain closed for the upcoming academic session — a decision that has drawn sharp criticism from student groups and raised fresh questions about the state of infrastructure at the varsity.The two hostels have a capacity to house approximately 150 students. Principal Ajay Arora told The Indian Express that the college had not created a new merit list for hostel admissions this year, citing structural concerns.“Last year, the roof of a hostel room collapsed,” Arora said. “There is also a dent on the side of one of the buildings. After the exams ended, we vacated the hostels immediately. We want to approach a government agency to get a safety audit done. Only after we get clearance will we prepare a fresh merit list for accommodation. For now, we are not willing to risk any student’s life.”On Wednesday, members of the All India Students’ Association (AISA) staged a protest against the move. In a memorandum submitted to the principal, AISA demanded the immediate reopening of hostels and accused the administration of failing to invest in safe and accessible student housing.“What’s happening at Ramjas is not new,” said Anjali, AISA’s DU secretary. “It’s part of a disturbing pattern across DU… Just as freshers arrive, Ramjas locks its doors.”“This is a strategic move to exclude students from marginalised backgrounds,” Anjali alleged.With spiraling rent prices and limited college-provided accommodation, students are increasingly pushed toward high-cost private paying guest facilities and flats.Story continues below this ad“This model chips away at the public character of Delhi University,” AISA’s statement read. “Hostels are not a luxury. With lakhs of students arriving from all over the country, they have a right. We will fight tooth and nail to defend that right.”College authorities maintained that the decision to close the hostels is strictly based on safety considerations and is temporary.Stay updated with the latest - Click here to follow us on Instagram© The Indian Express Pvt LtdTags:delhi university