The week-long protest over the state of affairs at National Law University, Odisha (NLUO) was called off today, with the Student Council stating that they feel 'broken, hopeless, dejected, and tired'.

The student body began the protest on January 24 against the administration's academic policy for mandatory evaluation of tutorial classes, lack of essential infrastructure such as toilets, offline academic resources, insensitivity to mental health problems and issuance of show cause notices against individuals who raised issues.

Tensions grew when the administration issued a statement calling the student body's demands illegal, unlawful and unreasonable and that the protest was chosen at a time crucial events of the University were taking place.

The administration later withdrew its statement in order to restore a conducive academic environment.

On January 26, Chancellor and Orissa High Court Acting Chief Justice Arindam Sinha visited the campus for the Republic Day celebration and acknowledged the protest. Promising to meet with the Student Council on February 3, he asked that the protest be called off.

On January 27, the Review Commission arrived at the campus and agreed to meet with the student body on January 28. The meeting had no outcome as the Commission did not have the power to implement changes in the University.

Vice-Chancellor Prof Ved Kumari had granted the students interim relief in the form of cancellation of the tutorial evaluation and the opening of the entire academic block for 24 hours of the day.

Additionally, an office order was issued on January 28 appointing a supervising authority for the cleaning and sanitation of the academic building of the University.

Students have appreciated this change, but state that it is not just the cleanliness and functionality but the construction of the toilets that pose a problem.

Why has the protest been called off?

On January 29, the student representatives met with faculty members who assured them that their demands will be addressed, on the condition that they call off the protests.

The meeting with the Chancellor on February 3 is still awaited by the student body. It is hoped that issues relating to academic policies, mental health concerns, and infrastructure, which have not yet been redressed, will be taken up at the meeting.

Students have resumed their classes, hoping the interim reliefs become permanent.