After a seven month wait marked by student outrage, protests, and institutional roadblocks, legal action is finally being taken against Ramjas College Professor Dhani Ram accused of sexually harassing a student of the college; a minor. Even as the student body celebrates this win, the concerns of political violence, safety and accountability in academic spaces are yet to be addressed.
On 8th July, 2025, a chargesheet was filed against Dhani Ram, professor of the Commerce Department of Ramjas College and the joint dean of Dean of Students’ Welfare, DU, as part of the case registered against him for allegedly sexually assaulting a minor undergraduate student at Ramjas College. This followed months of mounting controversy, and arduous efforts by the student body since the complaint was first registered with the Internal Complaints Committee (ICC) of Ramjas College in December, 2024.
There has been a history of sexual harassment allegations against Prof. Dhani Ram, with the latest being the fourth official complaint filed at the ICC. Despite repeated complaints against his conduct, no action was taken by the college authorities against him. After calls of protest by the student body and groups including AISA and SFI demanding accountability and proper investigation by the authorities, Ramjas College temporarily suspended Prof. Dhani Ram on 24th December, 2024 with the ICC inquiry still pending.
On 8th January, 2025, a call for protest was issued by Stanzin Deskyong, the Vice President of the Ramjas College Student Union due to the negligence towards due process by the college authorities following the complaint. The protest demanded that the victim’s consent be taken into consideration, the reconstitution of the ICC, timely enquiry into and suspension of the accused professor, and transparency during the enquiry, including the publication of an official suspension order on the college website. However, a mob including both Ramjas students and outsiders, allegedly of the ABVP, disrupted the protest. They harassed and attacked the students with flowerpots and sticks, severely injuring a third year student and threatening a professor. Student bodies and other student parties issued a call for protest and demanded action from the administration for this violence.
As part of the ABVP’s protest, which was staged separately, the members locked the Dean of Students’ Welfare office and conducted a sit-in protest demanding Prof Dhani Ram’s resignation. Later, a screenshot of a mail allegedly written by the professor was circulated on social media by ABVP Delhi, implying that Dhani Ram resigned due to their “persistent efforts” but no official confirmation of the same was given.
An FIR was finally registered by the Delhi Police on 7 May, 2025 under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offenses (POCSO) Act, including charges of section 10 and 12 of POCSO (aggravated sexual assault) and sections 74 and 79 (related to offenses against women) of the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) after more than 6 months of the initial complaint.
On May 19, 2025, Prof. Dhani Ram was confirmed by Delhi Police to have been legally bound to comply with the police investigation, and further proceedings such as court summons. The Internal Complaints Committee proceeded with its investigation and in the meantime advised the professor to stay off campus and refrain from teaching while the inquiry was ongoing.
In the latest update, according to Raja Banthia, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) the investigation has been progressing and after the final report of the ICC the chargesheet has been formally filed against the professor.
Sohan Yadav, an activist of SFI, DU remarked on the matter:
It has been only after consistent and sincere efforts from the side of students and student-representatives like Stanzin (Ramjas SU, VP) that sexual abusers like Dhani Ram have received an FIR. We must note that organisations like ABVP were the ones who physically attacked students and professors when we, SFI, tried to organise a peaceful gathering in support of the survivor in college.
We must collectively learn that students united shall always be victorious!
While this is an encouraging step on the road towards justice, a meaningful step towards ensuring accountability and reinforcing the security of students on campus is yet to be taken. The slow response by the authorities concerned, and inability to address student demands for transparency has reinforced the concerns about corruption and complicity of the ICC.
Featured Image Credits: SFI Delhi Instagram Page
Mangalya Singh
