DUSU Joint Secretary Deepika Jha allegedly slapped Professor Sujit Kumar at Dr. B.R.Ambedkar College, prompting outrage from teachers’ associations, police investigation, and a DU-appointed six-member committee to probe the assault.
On 16th October, Deepika Jha, the Joint Secretary of DUSU (Delhi University Students’ Union) of the current term, was seen slapping Professor Sujit Kumar, a senior teacher of Bhim Rao Ambedkar College of Delhi University. The incident occurred at the principal’s office in the presence of the police.
Professor V.S. Negi, the President of DUTA, in his letter requesting a General Body Meeting after the autumn vacation, stated that,
This incident has rattled the entire university and is an assault on the dignity of teachers and other stakeholders of the teaching-learning process in Delhi University. Teachers from across the country too have expressed their shock and indignation.
The letter further stated that DUTA’s effort to call for a flash protest on the 17th is simply not enough, in addition to the lack of a public addressing system.
Several organisations, including the Common Teachers’ Front, Democratic Teachers’ Front, Democratic Teachers’ Initiative, INTEC (I), Rashtriya Shiksha Morcha, and Samajwadi Shikshak Manch, have come together to demand a DUTA GBM on the 16th October physical assault on teachers.
The letter further stated,
It is shocking that the perpetrators of this act of violence are acting with total impunity. Encouraged by the fact that no action has been taken against them, they are making public statements maligning the teachers and creating a false narrative of the incident. Meanwhile, the affected teachers wait for justice.
The letter saw signatories from various organisations, including the Common Teachers’ Forum (CTF), Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF), Delhi Teachers’ Initiative (DTI), Rashtriya Shiksha Morcha (RSM), and Samajwadi Shikshak Manch (SSM).
A senior police officer confirmed that a complaint has been received and the matter is under investigation.
We received the complaint late in the evening. The video has been seen by investigators. They are obtaining CCTV footage now. The matter is being enquired into.
The University of Delhi has formed a six-member inquiry committee to investigate the alleged assault. The committee will be chaired by Professor Neeta Sehgal of the Department of Zoology. Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh said the panel has been directed to submit its report within two weeks. Other members of the committee include Professor Jyoti Trehan Sharma, Joint Proctor (Member Secretary); Professor Rama, Principal of Hansraj College; Professor Swati Diwakar from Environmental Studies; Professor Darvinder Kumar, Principal of PGDAV College; and Awadhesh Kumar, Joint Proctor
Image Credits- The Indian Express
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Divyanshi Dusad
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