The Crossbill News Desk
The suspension of a final-year postgraduate student at Dr B R Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) has sparked an indefinite sit-in protest on campus, beginning Tuesday (April 1).
The student, an activist of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), was suspended for six months on March 21 for allegedly criticizing the Vice-Chancellor’s Republic Day speech using the university’s official email system.
As part of the disciplinary action, the student has also been barred from entering the campus during the suspension period.
The protest gained momentum just days after faculty members at AUD received an email from the Dean of Academic Affairs, instructing them to report any classroom disruptions caused by students or student collectives.
Faculty Asked to Report Disruptions
In the email, the Dean stated that disruptions had been affecting classroom instruction and directed faculty members to take immediate action.
“This was a mere notice floated to the faculty members to maintain discipline on campus. It was not an official statement by the university,” the email read.
Faculty were also instructed to document specific details, including the date, time, location, and names of individuals or groups involved.
These reports, the Dean stated, would be reviewed for "necessary action to maintain academic integrity and smooth functioning of the university."
AISA Launches Indefinite Protest
In response to the student’s suspension, AISA announced the start of an indefinite sit-in inside the campus.
“AISA today marked the first day of indefinite sit-in inside AUD that was joined by several students,” the student organization said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The AUD administration has continued to increase barricading inside the campus and entry has been restricted from two of the three gates of the campus. We will be staying overnight inside the campus and will continue this sit-in till the revocation of the suspension,” AISA declared.
The university’s administration suspended the student following an order issued by the Proctorial Board, citing "indiscipline" and the use of "derogatory and disrespectful language against the head of the institution."
Reportedly the student was summoned for a proctorial hearing, where she was questioned on whether she still stood by her statements against the Vice-Chancellor.
The suspension has triggered widespread outrage among students and faculty, many of whom had gathered outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office last week, demanding an immediate revocation of the disciplinary action.
The protest is expected to intensify in the coming days as students continue their sit-in, challenging what they see as an attack on free expression and student rights.
The student, an activist of the All India Students’ Association (AISA), was suspended for six months on March 21 for allegedly criticizing the Vice-Chancellor’s Republic Day speech using the university’s official email system.
As part of the disciplinary action, the student has also been barred from entering the campus during the suspension period.
The protest gained momentum just days after faculty members at AUD received an email from the Dean of Academic Affairs, instructing them to report any classroom disruptions caused by students or student collectives.
Faculty Asked to Report Disruptions
In the email, the Dean stated that disruptions had been affecting classroom instruction and directed faculty members to take immediate action.
“This was a mere notice floated to the faculty members to maintain discipline on campus. It was not an official statement by the university,” the email read.
Faculty were also instructed to document specific details, including the date, time, location, and names of individuals or groups involved.
These reports, the Dean stated, would be reviewed for "necessary action to maintain academic integrity and smooth functioning of the university."
AISA Launches Indefinite Protest
In response to the student’s suspension, AISA announced the start of an indefinite sit-in inside the campus.
“AISA today marked the first day of indefinite sit-in inside AUD that was joined by several students,” the student organization said in a statement on Tuesday.
“The AUD administration has continued to increase barricading inside the campus and entry has been restricted from two of the three gates of the campus. We will be staying overnight inside the campus and will continue this sit-in till the revocation of the suspension,” AISA declared.
The university’s administration suspended the student following an order issued by the Proctorial Board, citing "indiscipline" and the use of "derogatory and disrespectful language against the head of the institution."
Reportedly the student was summoned for a proctorial hearing, where she was questioned on whether she still stood by her statements against the Vice-Chancellor.
The suspension has triggered widespread outrage among students and faculty, many of whom had gathered outside the Vice-Chancellor’s office last week, demanding an immediate revocation of the disciplinary action.
The protest is expected to intensify in the coming days as students continue their sit-in, challenging what they see as an attack on free expression and student rights.
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