Only unmarried women can study at Telangana’s social welfare residential colleges, according to the government’s rules. A state official, Venkat Raju, told The Times of India on Wednesday that they have implemented this rule because students get distracted when the husbands of married women at the college visit them frequently.

“There is every possibility of husbands visiting their wives weekly once or in a fortnight. We do not want any kind of distraction among students,” TSWREIS content manager Raju told the publication. The rule has been in place for around a year.

The prospectus available on the Telangana Social Welfare Residential Educational Institutions Society website for candidates seeking admission into the first year degree course for 2017-18 says, “application are invited only from women (unmarried) candidates”. It further says, “Married women candidates will not be considered for admission in to 1st year Degree courses.”

As many as 23 residential degree colleges for women, with a capacity of taking 280 students per year, are present in Telangana. Each college provides free education, accommodation and food for its students.