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Previously suspended for slapping a professor in Dr BR Ambedkar College, the DUSU Joint Secretary has returned to office after the university revoked her two-month suspension early.

DUSU Joint Secretary Deepika Jha’s (ABVP) two-month suspension following her assault on Professor Sujit Kumar in October has been revoked as of January 7th. The suspension had come into force on November 14, nearly a month after the assault took place at Dr BR Ambedkar College. The delayed response from the University had earlier drawn condemnation from several teachers’ associations, including the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), Delhi Teachers’ Front (DTF), and BRACSA, back in October.

Jha filed a request for revocation of the suspension on January 5, before the completion of the stipulated two-month period. Following a review of her conduct, the university-appointed committee revoked the order with effect from January 7, 2026.

Reacting to the development, Professor Sujit Kumar expressed his disbelief in an official statement to DU.today. He said, “Deepika Jha was suspended from the union during the examination and vacation period, in complete violation of Ordinance 15(B). Then, her suspension period was preponed without the fulfilment of the terms and conditions of the suspension order.”

Initially, the enquiry panel had recommended a three-month suspension period. However, the final order reduced the duration to two months. During the period, Jha was allowed to attend her classes and appear for the semester examinations held in December. The suspension was limited to her role as an office-bearer and barred her from entering any Delhi University campus in that capacity.

Criticising the decision, Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College, described the order as a ‘travesty of justice.’ The former DUTA executive added that “The University administration has abandoned everyone to protect the goons of the ruling party,”. Others echoed similar sentiments, questioning both the delay in initiating action and the nature of the disciplinary measures imposed.

The incident in question took place on October 16, 2025. Professor Sujit Kumar was acting as discipline convener, looking into a separate assault case at Dr BR Ambedkar College, when Jha and other members of the ABVP arrived at the college. During the meeting inside the principal’s office, Jha slapped Professor Kumar, later alleging that he had “smirked” at her. She later apologised for the act.

Image Source: Instagram Handle @deepika.jhaa

Anjali Paruvu

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In an attempt to affiliate Sri Venkateswara college to Andhra University, Andhra CM wrote to the centre. Delhi University Teachers’ Association has released a press release in the same matter outlining its consequences and thus, opposing the move.

On February 20th, 2021, DUTA issued a press release ‘DUTA against fragmentation of Delhi University’ in response to Andhra’s request to the centre to affiliate Sri Venkateswara college to AU. DUTA President Rajib Ray and Secretary Rajinder Singh go on to express the association’s concerns for the college and how if pushed into its due course of action, the move will have “disastrous consequences for teachers, employees and students as well as the character of education” and therefore, must be opposed.

Addressing the motives behind it, they further go on to acknowledge how the move appears to be driven by the fact that the residuary state of Andhra Pradesh lost several premier educational institutions to Telangana post bifurcation alongwith the founding idea of catering to the needs of Telugu-speaking students in Delhi.

The Andhra government has also claimed that the foundation has been making grants for the enhancement of the college and its guidance and combined efforts have played a considerable role in the high ranking achieved by the college. Therefore, a plea has been made to the Centre to amend the 2009 UGC order disallowing state governments from establishing off-campus of a state university beyond the geographical boundaries of the state.

DUTA goes on to express how the reasons mentioned above are not sufficient to dismember the college from DU, taking into account the fact that a large part of the reason of Sri Venkateswara college being in top NIRF rankings today comes from it, being a part of DU. The crowd of students and faculty that it attracts is because it has been affiliated with Delhi University and has, therefore, always strived for excellence.

“In making this plea, the Andhra Government is ignoring the fact that SVC has established itself as a premier institution within the framework of Delhi University. As part of a Central University, it is open to all students including those from Andhra Pradesh. The heterogeneity in terms of the student population has created the environment for achieving excellence. As part of DU, it has been able to attract the best academicians as faculty.”

-DUTA Press Release, 20.02.2021

Thus, DUTA has made its stance clear in standing alongside the SVC staff association in their resolve to oppose the move.

Adding on, the press release also outlines DUTA’s concerns pertaining to the move being driven by and finding support in NEP recommendations to universities to have offshore campuses. “The host of steps taken in the recent past as part of the Central Government policy is pushing institutions to acquire brand value through a specious ranking framework in order to be competitive in the market for edu-business.”

Featured Image Credits: lokmat

Annanya Chaturvedi

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