Universities Can't Take Casual Approach Towards Quality, Hygiene Of Hostel Food: Delhi High Court

The Delhi High Court has observed that universities cannot take a casual approach towards the quality and hygiene of food served in hostel messes.

Justice Jasmeet Singh emphasised that students cannot be expected to perform to their full potential unless they are provided good-quality, hygienic food.

“The quality and hygiene of food served in hostel mess is of utmost importance as when it comes to students, they cannot be expected to perform to their full potential unless they are being provided good quality hygienic food,” the Court observed.

The Court made the observations while hearing a plea filed by a 20-year-old student of Jamia Millia Islamia, who alleged that poor-quality food served in the hostel mess led to her contracting typhoid and affected her academic performance.

The student, who is pursuing B.A. (Hons.) Persian at the university, challenged notices issued to her and her subsequent eviction from the Begum Hazrat Mahal Girls' Hostel on September 25.

She alleged that the action followed her participation in a grievance raised by hostel residents regarding the quality of mess food.

The varsity submitted that the student's hostel accommodation was withdrawn because she failed to secure the minimum 55% aggregate marks required under the hostel manual for renewal of accommodation.

The student's counsel, however, argued that the University was aware of her marks when it granted her hostel accommodation.

It was further submitted that she failed to secure the prescribed marks because the poor quality of food served in the hostel mess had adversely affected her health, resulting in typhoid.

During the hearing, the varsity's counsel informed the Court that the food contractor had been changed and assured that the quality of food would be maintained.

He also stated that complaints received from students would be considered immediately and that university staff would eat hostel food with students daily to monitor its quality.

While the Court observed that the university's stand on the academic eligibility requirement could not be faulted since the student had admittedly failed to secure 55% marks, it said that the university was required to take a sympathetic view in light of her claim that she had suffered from typhoid because of the food served in the hostel mess.

The Court accordingly directed the University to treat the petition as a representation and, if any hostel accommodation remained unallotted, consider allotting it to the student on compassionate grounds.

The decision is to be taken within seven days.

The Court clarified that its observations and findings would not be treated as a precedent.