IIT Bombay imposes Rs 10,000 fine on students who protested against 'veg-only' mess tables

A few days after some students of the Indian Institute of Technology-Bombay protested against the designated 'Veg-only' space in the hostel mess, the institute has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 on one of the students and started inquiry about the other students who were involved in the protest. The fine amount will be deducted from the student’s Semester Mess Advance which is paid at the beginning of the semester.

“This act was a premeditated attempt to disrupt the peace and harmony within the mess, in defiance of the advice provided by the Associate Dean SA (Students’ Affairs)…” reads the minutes of the meeting of mess council of hostel 12, 13 and 14 held online on October 1 following which the decision to impose penalty has been taken.

What was the issue?

In the month of July, some students raised the issue of alleged food discrimination at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT-B). Following this, on September 27, its Mess Council has said six tables in a common canteen of three hostels will be designated for "vegetarian food only".

Compliance is crucial, it said, noting that any violation identified by the mess team (Council) will attract proper action and imposition of appropriate penalties. “Such violations will also be considered in disciplinary action, as they disrupt the harmony, we aim to maintain in our dining facilities,” said an email sent on Wednesday by the Mess Council to the students of hostels 12, 13 and 14.

The email said "some people can't resist the view and smell of non-veg food during their dining" and this may create health issues as well. “Our primary goal is to ensure that every resident enjoys a very comfortable and pleasant dining experience. To address this and create a more inclusive environment, it has been decided to designate only six tables exclusively for vegetarian food,” the email said. These tables will be marked clearly with the signage stating, “This place is designated for vegetarian food ONLY,” it said.

Few students had protested during dinner and ate non-vegetarian food at one of the six tables designated for veg-only food which had caused unrest in the mess. Complaints were discussed about the unruly behaviour and flouting of mess rules by a few students during dinner on September 28, a day after the declaration of designated ‘veg-only’ space by the mess council of these three hostels which share a combined mess. It was unanimously agreed that behaviour of this student was “contrary to the inclusive and peaceful atmosphere at Hostel 12, 13 and 14 mess,” the minutes of the meeting reads.