The problem has become acute as many old students do not leave the campus even after completing their studies as the living expenses are obscenely low there. For instance, JNU pay Rs 20 as room rent, live on subsidised food (Rs 500 odd for breakfast, lunch and dinner) and get free water and electricity. As old students seldom leave campus, there is a shortage of hostel seats for freshers. JNU administration sources put the number of such illegal residents at 400 odd while students claim there are many more.

The complaint letter submitted to HRD minister Murli Manohar Joshi reads: ``With reference to the persistent demand regarding allocation of funds for building a new hostel on JNU campus and in view of the ugly incident that happened on your last visit here, we appeal to you to instruct the concerned authorities to take needful action so that seats may be created for deserving students''.

The complaint letters to UGC chairperson and the HRD minister also carries a list of students overstaying at one of the JNU hostels - Sabarmati hostel. A student of Sabarmati hostel told Express Newsline: ``Though we are initiating the campaign here, we don't want to limit this to the Sabarmati hostel alone. Action should be taken against illegal residents living in other hostels as well, that is, Ganga, Godavari, Sutlej, Jhelum, Kaveri, Mahanadi, Brahmaputra, Narmada and Tapti''.

JNU chief proctor Prof R.R. Krishnan said: ``We will take immediate action against the offenders. We are discussing several measures to put an end to such illegal occupation on campus.'' The wardens of Sabarmati hostel have already sent notices to overstaying students.

In fact, the lack of adequate hostel seats at JNU has forced the authorities to rent makeshift hostels this academic session. JNU has recently rented a house in Mahipalpur village to provide accommodation to 20-odd students. University students who could not manage to get hostel accommodation end up renting a room in the non-teaching staff's quarters on campus or live in rented rooms in adjoining areas including Buddh Vihar, Jia Sarai, Ber Sarai and Munirka.

Students says a campaign will be initiated against those residents who are working in firms where their emoluments exceeds the UGC scholarship amount as only students admitted to full time programmes of study are eligible to apply for hostel accommodation. The JNU hostel manual states: ``Students who accept employment in the course of their study will lose their entitlement to hostel accommodation if they are employed for a period exceeding 3 months on salary including all allowances higher then the amount of UGC research fellowship. The students concerned shall be responsible to inform the hostel administration in this regard.'' Concealment of any information, it further states, shall lead to disciplinary action.