Living in PAU Hostels: Rules, Rights, and Responsibilities | Guide 4

Living in PAU Hostels: Rules, Rights, and Responsibilities

Posted by: Dr Singh Category: Hostel Life Read Time: 12 minutes

Introduction

Hostel life is often the best memory of your university years—new friendships, independence, late-night study sessions, and shared laughter. But hostel living also comes with responsibilities and rules that ensure everyone's safety, comfort, and studies are protected. This guide explains everything you need to know about hostel life at PAU.

Hostel Eligibility

Who Can Live in Hostels?

✓ Eligible: Hostel Rule I.1

• Regular undergraduate and postgraduate students on PAU's rolls
• In-service postgraduate students coming from outstation for M.Sc./Ph.D.
• International postgraduate students (in International Hostel)

✗ NOT Eligible: Hostel Rule I.1, I.2

• Students whose parents live in Ludhiana (ordinarily not eligible)
• In-service students receiving house rent allowance
• Students who have completed their degree program

📌 Exception: If accommodation is available, students with parents in Ludhiana may be considered for allotment on merit basis. Hostel Rule I.2

Duration of Hostel Stay

You can stay for the normal duration of your program: Hostel Rule I.3

• Bachelor's (4-year): Up to 4 years
• Master's: Up to 2 years
• Ph.D.: Up to 3 years
• No hostel accommodation beyond normal program duration

Getting Hostel Accommodation

Room Allotment Process

Allotment Priority: Hostel Rule II.1, II.2

1. Seniority and Merit are primary considerations
2. Postgraduates get cubicles first (on merit)
3. Left-over cubicles go to undergraduates:
   • 75% to students on academic merit
   • 25% to students outstanding in sports/co-curricular activities

Step-by-Step Process:

1. Application: Submit hostel application during specified window
2. Merit List: University releases list based on academic performance
3. Allocation: You must be personally present at allotment Hostel Rule II.3
4. Room Assignment: Room number assigned on the spot
5. Handover: Receive keys, sign agreement, move in

⚠️ Critical: You MUST be personally present during allotment. Missing it means you lose your hostel opportunity for that semester.

Your Hostel Room

What's Provided?

Standard furniture (subject to availability): Hostel Rule III.1

• One chair
• One table
• One cot (bed)

💡 Your Responsibility: You're responsible for the condition of provided furniture. Any damage (intentional or through negligence) will be charged to you. Hostel Rule III.1

Room Maintenance Rules

✓ You Must:

• Keep your room clean daily
• Ensure no damage to hostel property
• Report damage immediately
• Return all items when leaving

✗ Prohibited: Hostel Rule III.2

• Removing electric fittings from room
• Removing charpoy/bed from room
• Defacing walls, doors, or furniture
• Drilling holes in walls
• Moving furniture between rooms

Room Changes

Can You Change Rooms? Hostel Rule II.5

⚠️ Important Rule: No room change ordinarily permitted after general allotment. Violation results in hostel seat cancellation.

Exceptions (with Warden permission only):

• Medical emergency
• Safety issue
• Harassment cases

Hostel Timings

Your hostel has specific entry timings that vary by season and gender. Hostel Rule I.19

Girls' Hostel Timings

Season	Closing Time
Winter (Nov 1 - Feb 28)	7:00 PM
Summer (Mar 1 - Oct 31)	8:00 PM

Boys' Hostel Timings

Season	Closing Time
Winter (Nov 1 - Feb 28)	9:00 PM
Summer (Mar 1 - Oct 31)	10:00 PM

📌 What This Means: After closing time, hostel gates are locked. Late entry requires Warden permission and is logged.

Night Roll-Call

A mandatory attendance check at night to verify all students are present. Hostel Rule VI

Roll-Call Timings

• Winter: 7:30 PM
• Summer: 8:00 PM

Your Roll-Call Responsibilities

You Must: Hostel Rule VI.1

• Be present in your room at roll-call time
• Present yourself for attendance
• Not be absent without leave

If Absent Without Leave: Hostel Rule VI.2

• Fine imposed (amount varies)
• Fine list posted on notice board monthly
• Repeated absences lead to expulsion

🚨 Critical Rule: After roll-call, NO ONE leaves the hostel. Emergency only - must inform Warden/Assistant Warden before leaving. Hostel Rule VI.3

Absence for whole night without permission: Serious misconduct → Heavy penalty or expulsion Hostel Rule VI.4

Leave from Hostel

Important: College leave ≠ Hostel leave. You need BOTH separately. Hostel Rule V.1

How to Get Hostel Leave

Process: Hostel Rule V.2

1. Get leave sanctioned from Hostel Warden BEFORE taking it
2. Submit leave form with dates and reason
3. Get written approval
4. Sign leave register when leaving and returning

⚠️ Warning: Residents absenting themselves without sanctioned leave will be penalized. Hostel Rule V.3

Vacating Your Room

When You Must Leave: Hostel Rule I.5

• During semester breaks (when Warden asks)
• End of your program
• If expelled/rusticated

The Checkout Process

Before Leaving: Hostel Rule IV.1

1. Return all hostel items to Hostel Supervisor/Clerk
2. Pay all dues and fines
3. Get "No Due Certificate" from Warden
4. Personally hand over room charge to Supervisor/Clerk

You Can Deposit Luggage: In Hostel Cloak Room Hostel Rule I.5

⚠️ Critical: If you don't clear dues, your semester registration is blocked and degree/certificate withheld. Hostel Rule IV.5, IV.6

Hostel Funds

Each resident pays prescribed charges for hostel facilities. Hostel Rule I.14, I.15

Types of Funds

Fund Type	Frequency	Used For
Common Room Fund	Per Semester	Newspapers, magazines, indoor games, prizes
Utensils/Crockery/Breakage Fund	Per Year	Crockery, utensils, repairs, festivals

Collection: Collected by Dean with other fees Hostel Rule I.14, I.15

Operation: Managed by Director Students' Welfare Hostel Rule I.17

Mess (Dining)

Mess is Mandatory

💡 Important Rule: Every hostel resident MUST join the mess. Hostel Rule I.20

Dining Hall Rules

When Visiting Dining Hall/Canteen/Common Room: Hostel Rule I.7

• Residents must be properly dressed
• Maintain discipline and cleanliness
• Respect mess workers and staff Hostel Rule IX.3
• Any complaint against staff should be reported to Warden

Hostel Discipline & Rules

Core Rules of Hostel Living

✓ DO: Hostel Rule IX.1, IX.4

• Maintain perfect discipline and congenial atmosphere for studies
• Be courteous and polite with fellow students
• Report quarrels/disputes to Warden (don't take law into own hands)
• Show sense of responsibility

✗ DON'T: Hostel Rule IX.2, IX.5

• Shouting, hooting, violent knocking
• Playing music causing disturbance
• Maltreating or abusing hostel staff
• Teasing or ragging new students (STRICTLY PROHIBITED)

Prohibited Items in Hostels

🚨 STRICTLY FORBIDDEN: Hostel Rule IX.6

• Firearms and lethal weapons
• Poisons
• Intoxicants of any kind (including alcohol)

Consequence: Expelled from hostel by Warden on spot inquiry. May be punished by Director Students' Welfare on Disciplinary Committee recommendation.

Electricity Rules

Bulb Wattage & Prohibited Items

Allowed: Electric bulb up to 60 watts OR electric tube Hostel Rule VIII.1

⚠️ PROHIBITED: Hostel Rule VIII.2

• Electric heaters
• Electric rods (immersion heaters)
• High-power electrical appliances

Consequence: Rs. 500/- fine + Equipment confiscated

Safety Rules: Hostel Rule VIII.1, VIII.3

• Switch off lights/fans when not in use
• Do NOT tamper with electric fittings and installations
• For repairs, contact electrician only

Cleanliness & Maintenance

Bathroom Etiquette

For Flush Latrines: Hostel Rule X.5

• Pull chain gently after use
• Cistern works only when full (takes few minutes to refill)
• Do NOT throw datans, papers, or materials (causes blockage)
• If cistern out of order, use water from tap to flush

For Wash Basins: Hostel Rule X.4, X.6

• Don't block with sand or extraneous material
• Keep clean after use
• Always close taps after use

Lawn and Landscaping

Students Must: Hostel Rule X.1, X.2

• Show sense of responsibility for hedges, lawns, flowers
• Avoid crossing lawns
• Not tamper with hedges and fences
• Not cycle/ply vehicles in verandahs and lawns in/around hostel

General Cleanliness

Avoid: Hostel Rule X.3

• Spitting at all places
• Defacing walls, furniture, doors

Guests in Hostels

Who Can Visit?

Family Guests Only (with permission): Hostel Rule VII.1

• Get prior written permission from Warden
• Allowed: Father, Mother, or Real Brother/Sister ONLY
• Guest name entered in guest register under your signature
• Guest kept in hostel guest room

🚨 STRICTLY NOT PERMITTED: Hostel Rule VII.2, VII.3

• Lady guests in Boys' Hostels
• Male guests in Girls' Hostels

⚠️ Severe Penalty: Hostel Rule VII.4
Boarder keeping guest without permission OR entertaining expelled student → Expelled from hostel by Warden on spot inquiry

Ragging: Zero Tolerance

🚨 STRICTLY PROHIBITED: Hostel Rule IX.5 UGC Anti-Ragging Regulations

Teasing, maltreating, or indulging in ANY act of ragging of newly admitted students is prohibited. Severe disciplinary action will be taken against defaulting students.

Consequences Include:

• Suspension from hostel
• Suspension from college
• Rustication (1-4 semesters)
• Expulsion from university
• Fine up to Rs. 25,000
• Imprisonment up to 2 years or fine up to Rs. 10,000

If You're Ragged

• Report immediately to Warden or Director of Students' Welfare
• File formal complaint in writing
• Your complaint will be investigated
• Action taken against perpetrators

Hostel Discipline Violations & Punishments

Warden's Authority

Hostel Warden Can: Hostel Rule IX.7(a)

• Impose warning
• Impose fine up to Rs. 1,000/- (plus cost of damaged property)
• Cancel hostel seat of defaulting boarder
• Fine deposited in Hostel Fund Account with intimation to Director and Dean

Director Students' Welfare Can: Hostel Rule IX.7(b)

• Expel student from hostel
• Impose suitable fine for violation of hostel rules

Serious Violations

⚠️ Automatic Expulsion: Hostel Rule IV.3, IX.8, IX.10

• Fighting or factional fights/serious acts of indiscipline
• Threatening Warden/authorities
• Staying away from hostel without permission habitually
• Guilty of misconduct or indiscipline

Four-Wheeler Violations

🚫 PROHIBITED: Hostel Rule I.4
Hostel residents NOT allowed to keep any four wheeler in hostel. If found parked near/around hostel premises:
• Suitable fine imposed
• Hostel seat cancelled

Student Rights & Complaints

Voicing Complaints

If you have issues:

1. Talk to your Hostel Warden Hostel Rule I.8
2. If unresolved, contact Director of Students' Welfare Hostel Rule I.12
3. If still unresolved, submit written complaint to Dean
4. Can appeal to Vice Chancellor in extreme cases

💡 Important Guidance: Hostel Rule I.12
No boarder should see Director Students' Welfare for ordinary affairs. Contact Hostel Warden/Assistant Warden for such purposes.

Hostel Notice Board

📌 Must Check Daily: Hostel Rule I.11
Resident must see Hostel Notice Board TWICE A DAY as important notices are displayed on the Notice Board.

Hostel Functions & Meetings

For organizing any meeting/function in hostel: Hostel Rule I.13

• Seek approval from Director Students' Welfare through Hostel Warden
• Apply at least ONE WEEK in advance

Common Room

Common Room Facilities: Hostel Rule I.16

• Newspapers and allied literature
• Indoor games articles
• Managed by Common Room Secretary and Joint Secretary
• Hours fixed by Hostel Warden from time to time

Proper Use Required:

• Make proper use of newspapers, literature, and games
• Return items after use
• Report damage or missing items

Disciplinary History & Character Certificate

📝 Important to Know: Hostel Rule I.8
When granting character certificate to a boarder, the opinion of Hostel Warden will be given due weightage. Your hostel conduct matters!

Medical Issues

Reporting Illness: Hostel Rule I.9

• All cases of illness should be reported to Hostel Warden
• Also report to University Medical Officer
• Get proper medical attention
• Don't suffer in silence

International Students Hostel

Special Provisions for International PG Students: Hostel Allotment Rules - International

International Hostel Rules

Eligibility

• Available to regular International PG students (boys & girls) on PAU rolls only
• Not entitled beyond normal program duration

Accommodation Types

• AC rooms for double occupancy and single occupancy
• Allocation based on: seniority, merit, and availability

Priority

1. Students coming with family
2. Ph.D. students
3. Master's students

Fees & Guests

• Hostel charges collected for full semester at registration with fees
• No guests/visitors allowed in hostel

📌 Note: All other PAU Semester & Hostel rules also apply to International Hostel residents.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I keep my parents' car in hostel parking?

A: No. Four-wheelers NOT allowed in hostel premises. Violation results in fine and hostel seat cancellation. Hostel Rule I.4

What if my roommate is difficult?

A: Talk to Warden about mediation. Room change only permitted in exceptional cases (medical, safety, harassment). Hostel Rule II.5

Can I cook in my room?

A: No. Electric heaters and rods prohibited. Use mess for meals. Hostel Rule VIII.2

What happens if I leave without clearing dues?

A: Your degree/certificate is withheld. Cannot get "No Due Certificate." Registration for next semester blocked. Hostel Rule IV.5

Can I keep overnight guests?

A: Only father, mother, or real brother/sister with Warden's prior written permission. Guest stays in guest room. Hostel Rule VII.1

What if hostel facilities are inadequate?

A: Report to Warden first. If not addressed, escalate to Director of Students' Welfare, then Dean if needed.

Can I stay in hostel during semester break?

A: Usually NO. Hostels close during breaks and residents must vacate rooms. Director Students' Welfare may ask you to vacate when needed. Hostel Rule I.5

What if I need to leave hostel at night for emergency?

A: Inform Hostel Warden/Assistant Warden BEFORE leaving. Emergency only. Log out and in with staff. Hostel Rule VI.3

Key Takeaways

📌 Remember:

• Hostel is a privilege—follow all rules
• Must be physically present at room allotment Hostel Rule II.3
• Night roll-call is mandatory Hostel Rule VI.1
• No absences at night without permission Hostel Rule VI.3, VI.4
• Clear all dues before leaving Hostel Rule IV.5
• Ragging results in expulsion Hostel Rule IX.5
• Prohibited items have serious consequences Hostel Rule IX.6
• Electricity violations: Rs. 500 fine Hostel Rule VIII.2
• Four-wheelers NOT allowed Hostel Rule I.4
• Check notice board twice daily Hostel Rule I.11

Hostel Management Contacts

📞 For Hostel Issues:

• Hostel Warden: First point of contact for all hostel matters
• Assistant Warden: If Warden unavailable
• Block Prefect: Senior student assisting Warden in wing administration Hostel Rule I.10
• Director of Students' Welfare: For major issues and appeals
• Dean of College: For serious matters and final appeals

Hostel Student Leadership

Prefect System: Hostel Rule I.10

• In each wing, a senior student of good standing may be appointed as Prefect
• Prefect assists Hostel Warden/Assistant Warden in hostel administration
• Block Prefect takes night roll-call Hostel Rule VI.1

Common Room Leadership: Hostel Rule I.16

• Common Room Secretary and Joint Secretary elected/appointed
• Responsible for running common rooms
• Can propose amendments to common room rules (subject to Director approval)

Important Reminders

⚠️ Critical Points:

1. Hostel Rules are MANDATORY: Every boarder must have a copy and observe them in letter and spirit. Ignorance is NOT an excuse. Hostel Rule I.18
2. Mess Membership is Compulsory: Every boarder must join mess. Hostel Rule I.20
3. Dress Code: Be properly dressed when visiting dining hall, common room, and canteen. Hostel Rule I.7
4. Proper Behavior: Dealings must be courteous and polite. Avoid all quarrels and disputes. Hostel Rule IX.4
5. Don't Take Law in Your Hands: Report all issues to Warden. Hostel Rule IX.4

For Hostel Issues Contact:

• Hostel Warden: First point of contact
• Director of Students' Welfare: For major issues
• Dean of College: For appeals

Disclaimer: This is a simplified guide based on PAU's official Semester & Hostel Rules 2025-26. For complete information, refer to official documents or contact the Director of Students' Welfare.

Last Updated: October 2025

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