The Vellore Institute of Technology in Tamil Nadu do not want its students playing PUBG – the latest gaming addiction that has gripped the youngsters of the country. In a circular issued on Monday, 10 December, the warden of the men's hostel issued a strong email stating that they were "not permitted to play online games like PUBG."
The circular said that the online games "spoil the entire atmosphere" of the hostel and that the defaulters will be dealt with "seriously" under the VIT code of conduct.
"We received complaints that PUBG addiction among certain boys in the hostel has been causing disturbance and ruining the hostel atmosphere. We don't want our students to sit in their rooms all day and night on their phones. We want to encourage outdoor activities. Addiction to such games also results in poor academic performance by students," said the Deputy Director of VIT hostels, speaking to The News Minute.
A VIT fresher on Reddit wrote that while the students have been made aware of the bans, there is no way the hostel can enforce it.
“Vit fresher here, we’ve all been made aware of the ban but the authorities have no way of enforcing anything like this yet. The wardens have no idea what we do on our phones and laptops, and they don’t come into our rooms or patrol the floors post attendance. They have a ban on speakers and they couldn’t realise that I have had one on my table for 5 months now.”
Another Reddit user wrote:
“If you violate others privacy by making noise calling cop is pretty normal in USA. They shouldn’t infringe on your right as long as you are not infringing on others privacy. And betting is illegal in India. Therefore, the college administration has done what law expects it to do (sic).”
PUBG – PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds – reached over 100 million downlaods, and is in the annual list of Android’s best applications and games of 2018.
(With inputs from The News Minute)
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)