LED screen, cooler in MU hostel room raises questions of favouritism

A scene reminiscent of the popular movie Munna Bhai MBBS unfolded at Mumbai Universityrsquos Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil KBP Boys Hostel Highpitched drama erupted on the Kalina campus on Tuesday when an LED screen cooler and sofa were found in a studentrsquos hostel roomThe incident led to heated confrontations as other students along with ABVP activists demanded answers from university officials questioning why one student appeared to receive special treatment University officials said the student requested a cooler citing medical reasonsABVP activists say the letter has no acknowledgement stamp or reply allowing the cooler The university also clarified that the LED TV is an LED screen used by the student who is a PhD student of Geography for projects and it is not a TVABVP demands actionldquoTo address the administrative irregularities and inconveniences at Mumbai Universityrsquos Kalina campus hostels we raised the issues with authorities during a campus survey At the boysrsquo hostel Karmaveer Bhaurao Patil we discovered an unauthorised luxury setup in Room No 8 including a cooler LED TV and sofa despite many students struggling for hostel admissions The chief warden and other authorities failed to provide satisfactory explanations ABVP demands the roomrsquos immediate sealing and the responsible officialsrsquo suspensionrdquo said Prashant Mali Mumbai Metropolitan Secretary of ABVPABVP activists and students arguing with the hostel wardenldquoProviding VIP setups to select students in university hostels indicates favouritism and gross misconduct by the administration There seems to be financial collusion between senior university officials and these students If immediate action is not taken against the officials and students ABVP will launch a massive student protestrdquo Mali saidA senior varsity official told midday ldquoThe student had requested a cooler in his room citing a medical condition The university charges him R1000 per month for that There has been no violationrdquo A student on the hostel premises said ldquoThere is a lot of partiality happening at the hostel as a few students get better treatment and relaxation in rules while others have to follow rules stringentlyrdquoStudents allege special tratmentldquoI had a lot of issues while getting admission to the hostel So many students are waiting for rooms to be allotted to them But here we see that at least four to five rooms in the building are always locked I have seen coolers we hear sounds of TV programmes movies I am very sure the screen is also used for entertainmentrdquo the student saidIn a letter dated January 16 2024 student Shridhar Pednekar wrote to the university explaining that the screen in his room was for his projects and that he needed a cooler due to ongoing issues with itching and swelling on his hands and legs which worsened after recovering from COVID19 Pednekar also mentioned in the letter that he was willing to pay R250 per week to the University for the gadgetldquoOur only question is this The letter is merely an application requesting permission but it lacks an inward stamp from the authorities acknowledging approvalrdquo added Mali Pednekar could not be contacted and was not available at the hostel on Tuesday afternoon Mumbai University Registrar Dr Prasad Karande was not available for comment despite repeated attemptsAdvocate Manoj Tekade alumnus of Mumbai University from 2005 to 2007 said ldquoDuring my time personal TVs were not allowed in hostels A common TV was provided but it often led to quarrels sometimes escalating into physical fights over what to watch Similarly personal air conditioners coolers and even water heaters were prohibited Unlike some hostels with AC and nonAC rooms KBP hostel didnrsquot offer such facilities during my stayrdquo