Ashoka University allows early campus return after uproar over students being ‘locked out’

It was pointed out that sports teams routinely return to campus about a week before the winter break officially ends. (Credit: Ashoka University Official Website)

Days after Ashoka University students alleged that they were left stranded outside campus during the winter break — some for hours late at night in cold and foggy conditions — the university on Monday announced that students would now be allowed to return to campus earlier than the originally scheduled dates, The Indian Express has learnt.

In an email sent by the Residence Life Office on Monday afternoon, Ashoka stated that “students who wish to return to campus before the scheduled arrival dates of 17 and 18 January 2026 may do so on or after 11 January 2026”, adding that “no prior approval from the Residence Life Office is required for returning on or after this date.”

The communication was issued shortly after a meeting between the Dean of Student Affairs and representatives of the Ashoka University Student Government (AUSG), and comes amid growing student criticism over how winter-break residence restrictions were enforced.

As reported by The Indian Express on Monday, several undergraduate students said they were denied access to campus despite appeals citing lack of accommodation in Delhi. In some cases, access cards were disabled without warning, leaving students outside campus gates late in the evening.

Sources within the Student Government said that during Monday’s meeting with the administration, it was pointed out that sports teams routinely return to campus about a week before the winter break officially ends. Based on this precedent, it was communicated that students who wished to return during the same period should also be allowed to do so.

The Indian Express has reached out to Ashoka University seeking comment. A response is awaited.

Responding to student concerns earlier, Ashoka University had told The Indian Express that winter-break residence restrictions were being implemented “as per policy”.

“During the winter break, students who are required to be on campus for pre-scheduled official assignments, with advance information to the university, and all international students are permitted to be on campus. Due to security and logistical concerns, access to university premises remains restricted during this period to those with prior approval, as per university regulations,” it had said.

Student representatives, however, claimed that no detailed explanation was provided beyond this, even though students pay hostel fees for the monsoon semester, which covers residence between August 22 and December 31.

For years, according to the students, they have been allowed to remain in their hostels at Ashoka University during such vacations. Many students, especially those from outside North India, or abroad, routinely stayed back, as their hostel fees covered residence through December.

But this time, it was different. Members of the Student Government had said students were informed of a new ‘Residence Life’ policy, requiring them to vacate campus during the winter break unless they received special approval through an appeal process. Several students said the communication that followed was delayed, ambiguous, or entirely absent.