IIT Kharagpur revokes notice on segregation of veg and non-veg seating in hostel dining halls

On August 16, boarders of BR Ambedkar Hall of Residence were directed to occupy separate, earmarked seats depending on whether they ate vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals.

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has rolled back its directive that sought to segregate hostel dining hall seating based on vegetarian and non-vegetarian food preferences.

The decision came after strong criticism from students and alumni, with many arguing that the move promoted unnecessary division on campus.

IIT Kharagpur Director Suman Chakraborty, speaking to PTI on Friday, said that the order had been issued without the knowledge of the institute’s top administration.

“The moment I came to know about it, we scrapped the decision after immediate consultation with higher authorities. There should not be any signage segregating students in the dining hall based on their culinary choices,” he noted.

On August 16, boarders of BR Ambedkar Hall of Residence were directed to occupy separate, earmarked seats depending on whether they ate vegetarian or non-vegetarian meals. The notice reportedly followed complaints from some vegetarian students, who said sharing tables with peers consuming chicken, fish, or mutton was inconvenient.

The order, however, soon sparked a strong backlash. Students and alumni condemned it as discriminatory, and the controversy quickly gained traction beyond the campus.

Following this, on September 8, the institute issued a new directive clarifying that segregation in hostel messes, if any, must be limited only to the preparation and distribution of food, not seating arrangements.

“This applies across all hostels. On principle, there cannot and should not be such segregation anywhere,” Chakraborty stated.