SPPU UNDER FIRE: Mess Shut, 117 CCTV Cameras Broken, PG Seats Vacant
Image credit:-“Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune” by Nikhilmare nimo, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons.
SPPU Campus Safety: Savitribai Phule Pune University is facing fresh scrutiny on multiple fronts this week. The girls’ hostel mess has been shut down after an FDA crackdown on severe hygiene violations, and new data reveals that more than half of the university’s CCTV cameras remain non-functional.
Together, these developments paint a picture of a university struggling to maintain basic student welfare standards — even as it grapples with shifting academic demand.
FDA Shuts Girls’ Hostel Mess Over Cockroach Infestation
The girls’ hostel mess, operated by M/s Maratha Caterers (represented by Akash Rajaram Mohite), was closed on October 6 after a Food and Drug Administration inspection.
What the FDA found:
- Live cockroaches in the kitchen and surrounding areas
- Extremely unhygienic food preparation and storage conditions
- Poor staff hygiene
- Missing mandatory food-safety records
The inspection was led by food safety officer Ajinkya Umap and followed weeks of student complaints. Students had reported:
- Insects in poha served for breakfast on October 2 and 3
- Plastic in vegetables on September 28 and 29
- A metal wire found in food
- Earlier complaints of pins and safety pins that went unaddressed
Following the inspection, the FDA suspended the operator’s food registration certificate. The university administration then formally closed the mess and issued a notice to the contractor. Samples have been collected for further testing, and action under the Food Safety and Standards Act remains possible.
What Is the FDA’s Role in Campus Safety?
In the Indian context, the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) is a state-level body that operates under the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) and the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006.
The FDA’s role is strictly limited to food safety and hygiene in institutional kitchens and messes. It does not handle:
- Campus security
- Building safety
- Fire norms
- Mental health
- Ragging prevention
However, when students report contaminated food and the university fails to act, the FDA can step in — as it did at SPPU this week.
The SPPU Campus Safety concerns extend beyond food — CCTV coverage across the 411-acre campus remains a major gap.
This Is Not the First Mess Closure
The October 6 shutdown is not an isolated incident.
In June 2026, all eight campus messes and the central refectory faced temporary shutdowns after students reported worms and insects in meals. The FDA intervened then too.
This pattern suggests a systemic problem in maintaining food safety standards across campus dining facilities that serve thousands of students daily.
Student representatives, including Abhishek Shelkar of the University Students’ Struggle Action Committee, have welcomed the FDA action but stressed the need for a permanent solution rather than temporary fixes.
PG Admissions: 11% Seats Vacant
On the academic front, SPPU’s postgraduate admissions for 2026-27 reveal a mixed picture:
| Metric | Number |
|---|---|
| Total PG seats available | 3,316 |
| Seats filled | 2,929 |
| Seats vacant | ~387 (11%) |
| Total PG programmes | 90 |
Courses that filled their quotas:
- Computer Science
- Data Science
- Botany
- Management
- Environmental Science
- Health Sciences
- Biotechnology
Courses that struggled:
- Foreign languages
- Education
- Physical education
- Fine arts
Some departments were forced to conduct spot admission rounds due to lack of response. University officials acknowledge that competition from private universities offering newer courses is contributing to the vacancies.
SPPU Campus Safety: 117 of 222 CCTV Cameras Non-Functional
Beyond food safety, SPPU’s campus security infrastructure is also under scrutiny.
As of August 2026:
- The 411-acre campus has 222 CCTV cameras in common areas
- 117 of them (more than half) are non-functional
Affected locations include:
- Main gates
- Boys’ hostel entrances
- The food mall and refectory
- Areas near statues and gardens
Senate members have repeatedly flagged this issue, but full repairs and centralised monitoring remain incomplete.
March 2026 Hostel Incident
The CCTV failures have real consequences.
In March 2026, a delivery agent entered a girls’ hostel, went up to the third floor, and harassed an international student before fleeing. The incident highlighted:
- Weak entry checks
- Insufficient security staff
- Limited CCTV coverage
The incident highlighted significant SPPU Campus Safety failures, including weak entry checks and insufficient security staff.
Girls’ Hostel Safety Concerns
Female students have reported frequent unwanted attention at night — following, staring, bike revving, and circling vehicles — often attributed to outsiders on the open campus.
Many hesitate to report incidents because past complaints led to questions about why they were outside rather than action against the behaviour. A strict 10:30 PM in-time applies to girls’ hostels, while no such restriction applies to boys.
Existing Safety Measures
SPPU does have some systems in place:
| Measure | Details |
|---|---|
| 24/7 Security Helpline | 020-48553383 |
| Security guards | Conduct regular rounds |
| Girls’ hostel rule | Men not allowed within 100 metres |
| Police coordination | University security coordinates with local police |
Despite these measures, awareness of SPPU Campus Safety resources remains low among students.
Wider Pune Context: PG Hostels Sealed for Safety Violations
The safety concerns extend beyond SPPU’s campus.
In September 2026, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) sealed 11 PG hostels in areas like Lohegaon for:
- Lacking basic fire-fighting systems
- Missing mandatory permissions
Students looking for PG accommodation should verify:
- Biometric entry systems
- Visitor logs
- 24×7 security guards
- Functional CCTV cameras
- Current fire NOC
- Water quality
Other Recent Administrative Actions
In late September, SPPU’s Management Council:
- Rolled back a proposed ₹10 hike in mess and refectory rates after student protests
- Cited the state’s drought situation as the reason
- Waived exam fees for students from drought-affected talukas in Pune, Ahilyanagar, and Nashik districts
- Formed committees to review food quality and dining operations
What Students Should Do Now
| Issue | Action |
|---|---|
| Mess Closure | Monitor SPPU notice boards for reopening updates |
| PG Vacancies | Check the SPPU admission portal for spot admission rounds |
| Campus Safety | Save the security helpline: 020-48553383 |
| PG Accommodation | Verify fire NOC, CCTV, and security before moving in |
| Food Safety | Report contaminated food directly to the FDA if the university does not act |
The Bottom Line
The mess shutdown and PG vacancy figures together highlight SPPU’s dual challenge:
- Tightening operational grip on essential student services
- Ensuring academic programmes remain attractive and relevant
With hygiene enforcement now backed by regulatory action and admission data publicly highlighting demand shifts, the university is under pressure to deliver both safer campus living conditions and more responsive course planning.
Students and stakeholders will be watching closely for the reopening of the girls’ hostel mess under improved standards — and for any further steps the administration takes to fill remaining PG seats or redesign under-subscribed programmes.
(Source: SPPU official notifications, FDA action reports, PG admission data, and student safety reports)
The SPPU Campus Safety situation will be closely watched by students, parents, and university administrators in the coming weeks.
Also read : sppu-exam-schedule-2026-27
