Ravenshaw University authorities have started imposing penalty of Rs 500 on hostel boarders who had stayed outside on the night of October 1 and participated in the agitation at the vice-chancellor’s office over students’ union elections.

While wardens of six girl’s hostels had identified 145 boarders, penalty has been imposed on at least 47 of them, official sources said.

The letter of penalty issued to the boarders said: “Considering the gravity of indiscipline performed by you and the explanation submitted by you, you are hereby penalised an amount of Rs 500 (Rupees five hundred only) as this is your 1st mistake. If this type of act is repeated, then more stringent action will be taken against you as per rule of the hostel.”

Starting 4pm on October 1, the agitating students gheraoed the VC for nearly 13 hours and it was not before 5am the next day that he could leave for home. An inquiry had been started into the incident.

As part of the inquiry, the hostel wardens were asked to identify the inmates who had violated the boarding rules to participate in the agitation at the VC’s office and submit report after giving them opportunity of hearing.

The hostel wardens, however, were allowed to exercise their discretion and settle cases of first-time violation by issuing an warning to the boarders or imposing a fine on them. Warden of Kathajodi Girls’ Hostel Shamita Mohapatra said: “Penalty of Rs 500 has been imposed on 17 boarders and some of them have also complied by paying the fine”.

Warden of Mahanadi Girls’ Hostel Ranjana Bajpai said: “Show-cause notices has been issued to 40 boarders. All of them have already presented their point of view. No fines have been imposed on any of them as their explanations are being examined”.

Warden of Bhargavi Hostel Anjuman Ara said: “Penalty of Rs 500 has been imposed on 26 boarders, while the names of another nine submitted in the report to the chief warden of hostels. However, no fines have been collected so far.”

While Parija Girls’ Hostel warden has reportedly imposed fine of Rs 500 each on four boarders, the wardens of two other girl’s hostels – Daya and Devi — had issued show cause notices to six and 43 boarders, respectively.

Chief warden of hostels Smruti Prava Das said the proctor board had forwarded the names received from wardens for disciplinary action. “The parents of the boarders will also be intimated,” Das said. Official sources said nine boarders of Bhargavi Girls’ hostel, who were not imposed penalty, had been asked to appear before the proctor board committee.