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IIT Kharagpur director Suman Chakraborty emphasised that an academic institution should not enforce segregation based on individual food preferences.
The IIT Kharagpur director reaffirmed that there should be no segregation based on food preferences in principle. (File Photo)
The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has retracted a notice that had mandated separate seating arrangements in hostel dining halls based on vegetarian and non-vegetarian preferences, an official stated.
Institute director Suman Chakraborty revealed that the notice regarding seating segregation at B R Ambedkar Hall was issued without higher authorities’ approval. Upon discovering the decision, it was immediately scrapped following consultations with other senior officials.
“The moment he came to know about the decision, it was scrapped following immediate consultation with others in the higher authority of the institute. There should not be any such signage to segregate students assembled at the dining hall based on their culinary choice. We have ordered that such signage be removed in whichever dining hall it remains with immediate effect,” Chakraborty said.
Chakraborty emphasised that an academic institution should not enforce segregation based on individual food preferences.
On August 16, residents of B R Ambedkar Hall were notified to sit in designated areas for vegetarian and non-vegetarian meals. This move sparked criticism among boarders and alumni, who condemned it for promoting division.
On September 8, a new notice directed all hall wardens that any segregation of mess food should be limited to preparation and distribution levels, not seating arrangements in the dining hall.
The initial notice on August 16 was in response to complaints from vegetarian boarders about the inconvenience caused by non-vegetarian food being consumed at the same tables. The directive for signage at Ambedkar Hall dining tables will be enforced in other hostel dining halls immediately if such practices are observed.
The director reaffirmed that there should be no segregation based on food preferences in principle.
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September 12, 2025, 12:50 pm
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