The Students Federation of India (SFI) has condemned the chief warden of Government Virudhunagar Medical College Hostel imposing fines on students who were using electric gadgets in their rooms.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, SFI district secretary Ananda Kannan urged the government to provide basic amenities to the students at medical college hostels and drop the circular, which had slapped fines ranging from ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 on the hostelers.
The students were using gadgets like hair dryers, pressing irons, juice mixers, induction stoves and air coolers in their rooms built on Virudhunagar-Madurai four-way highway near the medical college.
The hostel authorities had seized the gadgets and directed the students to remit the fines before October 31 in the bank account of the college, and get their gadgets back. If they failed to do so, the college would not issue ‘No Dues Certificate’ to them, the authorities had said.
The warden’s circular had stated that action would be taken against the hostelers as per the college council guidelines for non-compliance of the order, Mr. Ananda Kannan said, and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the circular and imposition of fines.
When the basic amenities were to be provided by the government, imposition of fines showed the autocratic attitude of the authorities. “The SFI will be constrained to mobilise the students and stage demonstrations if the order is not withdrawn,” he added.
Published – September 29, 2026 08:42 pm IST
