Lucknow: A student-led “Samata Samvardhan (Equality Promotion) March” at University of Lucknow was halted by police, with several student leaders allegedly taken into custody. The march was organised in support of a national student call demanding stronger and enforceable equality mechanisms in higher education institutions.
The rally was scheduled to proceed from Gate No. 3 to Gate No. 1 of the university campus. Students said the march was peaceful and that prior written intimation had been given to the administration. However, heavy police deployment and barricading along the route stopped participants midway.
According to student representatives, police used force to disperse the gathering and detained multiple leaders. Eyewitnesses claimed some students were physically dragged while attempting to continue the march.
The protesters raised a series of structural demands, including legal recognition of caste-based discrimination as a distinct and actionable institutional violation, the establishment of fully autonomous and independent Equal Opportunity and Anti-Discrimination bodies, and the creation of a state-level Higher Education Social Justice Commission with investigative and monitoring powers.
They also called for inclusive representation of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, OBCs, minorities, women, gender-diverse persons and persons with disabilities in grievance redressal bodies. Additional demands included time-bound complaint mechanisms, independent appellate systems outside university administrations, legal safeguards against retaliation, accountability for delays in fellowships and biased evaluations, annual public reporting of discrimination data, and periodic independent social equity audits.
Citing data acknowledged by the University Grants Commission, students claimed that complaints related to discrimination and harassment in higher educational institutions have risen by nearly 118 percent over the past five years, arguing that the increase underscores the inadequacy of existing systems.
Student groups described the police action as selective and alleged that the district administration did not arrive to receive their memorandum despite prior notice. They termed it a setback to democratic dialogue.
Despite the disruption, participating organisations — including AISA, NSUI, SFI, BASF, BAPSA and Ambedkarite student groups — reiterated their commitment to continue the movement through peaceful and constitutional means, asserting that their demands aim to make higher education institutions more accountable and equitable.
