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Delhi High Court Orders DU to Release Law Degree of Former DUSU President Ronak Khatri

By DU Beat October 16, 2026

The Delhi High Court order, made public on 12th October, ordered the release of the law degree of former DUSU Chief Ronak Khatri; however, it added that the University may file a suit to recover its legitimate dues.

In an order dated 30th September, made public on 12th October, the Delhi High Court directed Delhi University to release former DUSU Chief Ronak Khatri’s degree and academic records.

Justice Jasmeet Singh ruled, “The issuance of Degree and/or Marksheets cannot be withheld to enforce payment of dues unrelated to the academic course itself, absent clear statutory or regulatory authority permitting such withholding”. The non- release of Khatri’s degree and marksheets had prevented him from registering with the Bar Council of Delhi to practise as an advocate.

While the High Court has now ordered the release of Ronak Khatri’s law degree, it also added that the University may file a civil suit for recovery of its legitimate dues. Delhi University had cleared Khatri with no objection for academic dues, but had alleged that he owed over Rs 8 lakhs in non-academic dues.

Ronak Khatri, represented by senior advocate N Hariharan along with advocates Siddharth Yadav and Ratnesh Sharma, argued that the dues cited by DU were relating to booking of International Guest House of DU, which was done with the required approval and permission as the DUSU president.

The controversy surrounding the ex-DUSU chief’s ‘legal and legitimate dues’ had come to light in February 2026, when Khatri’s degree was withheld over unpaid bills amounting to over Rs. 8 lakhs incurred during his tenure as DUSU Chief from 2024-2025.

The former DUSU chief had been issued notices to clear the pending dues in November and December 2025. Ronak Khatri had challenged the University’s action before the Delhi High Court in February, arguing that the bookings were made in his official capacity as students union president and thus the expenditures were chargeable directly to student union funds rather than individual office-bearers.

The court order made public on 12th October allowed Khatri’s plea, recognising that DU had shown “no provision of law” wherein degrees can be withheld “for non-payment of the catering service and room booking charges”.

Image Credit: Instagram (ronak.khatrii)

Sahaj J
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DUB News

DU Faces Legal Scrutiny in High Court Following Its One-Year PG Programme

By DU Beat October 4, 2026

DU faces multiple written pleas against its newly introduced PG programme, and at the next hearing, it shall reveal necessary and developmental changes to the eligibility criteria.

Delhi University is celebrated as one of the most academically proficient educational institutions in this nation for both Undergraduate (UG) and Postgraduate (PG) courses. While the selection criteria for the regarded PG studies follow the same pattern as the UG, there is also a substantial addition to the parameters, notably for the one-year postgraduate programmes.

DU follows the P1, P2, P3 and P4 system, better known as Programme-Specific Eligibility (PSE) priority levels. P1 (Priority 1) candidates are given first preference because their undergraduate qualification has direct academic relevance to the Master’s programme. P2 (Priority 2) includes candidates with other eligible undergraduate backgrounds, such as certain BA programmes/related combinations, who satisfy the programme’s eligibility requirements but have a lower priority than P1 candidates. In practical terms, DU considers eligible P1 candidates first; P2 candidates are considered subsequently for the available seats. This addition has been introduced in the 2026–27 academic session, with admissions starting on 5 July 2026.

However, since its inception, it has received a significant amount of backlash over the selection criteria and eligibility standards. As a result, multiple petitions have been filed with the Delhi High Court, involving around 100 petitioners.

The first hearing was on 31st August, followed by 18th September for multiple pleas. The scrutinized changes have been provided to Delhi University for clarity of the case. Against the contested challenges, DU has failed to comply by filing no counter-reply yet.

The petitions in the case have scrutinized some crucial and cohesive structures of admissions. Part of the PSE programme has been requested to be rectified within the eligibility criteria. These include numerous changes, such as the inclusion of the Bulletin of Information, delayed notifications, and the merit-based system adopted by the University.

Let’s understand the severity of the written pleas by examining each petition separately.

Gaurav Sharma & Ors.—W.P.(C) 12558/2026 (31st Aug, 2026)

This plea was one of the principal foundations that challenged the framework for the newly introduced programme. Their central objection to the petitioners talks about the distinction and segregation that the university has created between two kinds of students who have completed four-year undergraduate degrees: students with a four-year undergraduate honours degree and students with a Four-Year Undergraduate Degree with a Major.

The main objection to this plea resides in the claim of being a uniform structure while simultaneously giving priority to students with a four-year honours degree over students with a four-year degree with a major. As an alternative, petitioners asked the Court to shift DU to conduct admissions without providing any unfair priority to Honours degree students over Major degree holders. Finally, a generalised solution was proposed so as to provide a common merit list. The list would include students of all categories while removing the programme-specific priorities and including more seats.

On 31 August 2026, Justice Jasmeet Singh issued notice on the petition. The information regarding this plea had previously been forwarded to the 18th August hearing. Following that, it was decided to provide DU the right to reply in this case, which has not been fulfilled as of 3rd October.

Shiva Singh — W.P.(C) 12521/2026

This plea was filed individually by a Political Science UG Student for his master’s degree under the new One-Year Programme. According to the University’s subsequent (Grievance Redressal Committee) GRC proceedings, Singh was a student who had completed his four-year undergraduate BA Programme in Economics and Political Science, with Political Science as his Major.

His plea basically meant that the University’s priority system could potentially put a student with an Honours degree in Political Science ahead of a student who had Political Science as a Major, irrespective of their relative marks in the CUET-PG.

The High Court therefore directed the DU’s GRC group to examine the issue and issue a reasoned order within the time as provided under the law.

The GRC subsequently issued a Speaking Order dated 3 September 2026.

According to what was reported in that speaking order, the University’s position was that both Honours and Major students were eligible; however, Honours students had greater subject-specific exposure, and therefore, giving them priority was academically justified.

The GRC also addressed whether students had adequate notice of the eligibility requirements. The Executive Council’s resolution was concerned with eligibility and seats. The reply came with the decision that the administrative changes had been uploaded on the DU website on January 2, 2026, six months prior to the university’s one-year PG admissions.

Therefore, rejecting this plea, the GRC agreed with the eligibility criteria approved by DU’s statutory bodies. It found that both students with a four-year Bachelor’s Honours degree with Research in Political Science and students with a four-year Bachelor’s degree with a Major in Political Science are eligible to apply for the one-year PG programme.

However, students who completed single-discipline undergraduate Honours programmes can reasonably be expected to have greater exposure to the relevant subject. The committee therefore concluded that the priority given to Honours students was a “well-thought-out, academically orientated decision” taken through a multi-stage statutory process involving the university’s departments, Academic Council and Executive Council.

The dispute is consequently about more than one student’s admission to MA Political Science. At its core lies the question of whether students who pursued a subject as a Major in a multidisciplinary four-year degree should compete on the same basis as students who completed Honours in that subject when applying for a one-year master’s programme. DU’s answer, through the GRC, is no. The university maintains that the difference in academic structure, entry requirements and subject-specific credits provides a rational basis for the priority.

Ankit Singh & Ors.—W.P.(C) 13299/2026 (10th Sept, 2026)

The petitioner’s application for the Masters’ Programme was rejected by DU on the basis of the guidelines set by the PSE criteria. In this situation, the major complaint was raised against the lack of properly structured nomenclature for some of these specialised undergraduate courses available for PG students. It challenges DU’s Bulletin because it bases admission on four-year undergraduate scores, all while giving priority to Honours students over Major students.

But in this plea, there is a generalised solution that is provided for a holistic and immediate remedy of inclusion. Such as a non-preferential list over a major or honours degree. And providing a common merit list. The petitioners have requested Respondent No. 2 to mandate DU to introduce respective One-Year Master’s programmes for specialised vocational and programme streams offered under UGCF-2022 as an alternate opportunity. The petition therefore connects the admission problem with the broader implementation of UGC guidelines.

At the onset of this case in September, Justice Jasmeet Singh issued a new notice stating that the DU’s counsel had to accept the notice and should be given time to file a reply/obtain instructions by 1st October 2026.

Ulfat — W.P.(C) 13498/2026

The Court considered Ulfat’s petition on 16 September 2026. The petitioners specifically asked the Delhi High Court to quash and set aside the GRC Speaking Order dated 3 September 2026. This Speaking Order arose from the earlier litigation concerning Shiva Singh, who stood up and filed a plea regarding the lack of seats being filled in the university due to the Honours degree preferential requisites. The GRC had been asked to examine the grievance concerning DU’s Honours priority and had ultimately maintained the University’s position.

The petitioners also seek to challenge the relevant provisions of DU’s 4 July 2026 Bulletin of Information. The delay in this notification led to broad mismanagement in the university’s diaspora. The petitioners believe that the students who had previously completed the degree before the new notifications have been primarily stripped of an official and proper chance to get their required master’s programme. Furthermore, the petitioners contend that this arrangement is prejudicial to students who have completed their undergraduate degree with a major in any subject.

Another important aspect of the petition is its emphasis on the fact that these are the first students graduating through the four-year UGCF system. Entering the new postgraduate framework based on the latest bulletin of information, the petitioners seek justified and appropriate clarifications from DU so that the first batch of students are not prejudiced. Secondarily, so that they have a bias based on the University’s implementation of the new system.

And, similar to the prospectus provided by the previous pleas, Ulfat’s petition also requests Delhi University to provide for a similar common merit list and to extend the number of seats to accommodate all types of students.

In response to this, Delhi University replied, as reflected in the GRC proceedings, that Honours and Major are not academically identical qualifications. DU’s justification is based primarily on subject-specific academic exposure.

The University’s position is that an Honours student has greater disciplinary depth in the relevant subject, which is particularly relevant for a compressed syllabus of a one-year Master’s programme. According to DU’s reasoning, giving Honours students priority is an academically noble criterion rather than an arbitrary or inflexible approach to preference. Students who have studied under the honours degree have a major first hand understanding and depth of the subject as compared to the students from the B.A. programme.

Therefore, the court has taken up this case again on 18th September, while directing the remaining procedural steps and holding off for a response by the university. The matter is currently being listed for the 4th October hearing.

Aryan Yadav & Ors.—W.P.(C) 13723/2026

This plea talks about a very significant and independent detail. The petitioners do not simply challenge the administration’s standards but directly question the University’s decision to organise admission through preferential categories instead of simply considering candidates through an undifferentiated merit process.

By challenging the preferential system, they ask to remove any kind of hegemony of courses and to provide a common traditional exam for all the UG students on a common pool of subjects. By this arrangement, the results of the common exam shall determine the academic cadre and then create a simple framework for students to take up the subject combinations according to their own comfort.

The petitioners recognize that simply striking down the priority system may not automatically solve the immediate problem. They therefore ask DU to develop a suitable transitory mechanism. Specifically, they ask for a supernumerary quota in a suitable proportion to accommodate the petitioners. The purpose is explicitly stated in the plea as ‘so that the present academic year of the students is not wasted’

Another particularly interesting addition to the case was to ask the DU Administration to establish a central online information portal that would provide students with timely information. This indicates that their grievance extends beyond the substantive priority of policy to the communication and information architecture surrounding the admissions process.

This case was listed before the Justice on 18th September, and the case summary was provided to DU, along with the necessary time to file a reply. The next hearing is set for the 3rd of October, while the petitioners await a much-expected grievance in the admission eligibility. The question before Delhi University is no longer merely who gets priority, but whether the transition to a new academic structure can be called equitable when they already face legal scrutiny with the inception of their first batch.

Image Credits: NDTV

Rajarshi Ghosh

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DUB News

DUSU Victory Processions Raise Questions Over Lyngdoh Norms; HC Scrutinises Violations

By DU Beat September 26, 2026

DUSU elections 2026 face Delhi High Court scrutiny over alleged victory procession violations, contempt concerns and the use of money and muscle power.

Earlier last week, the DUSU elections concluded, bringing with them the familiar display of money, muscle and power that have come to characterise the student politics at the University of Delhi. Despite the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations prescribing safeguards for student elections, including keeping the elections free from any sort of political influence from the parties, violations continue to surface from time to time.

On September 18, a bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyaya and Justice Tejas Karia heard a plea filed by Prashant Manchanda, alleging violations of the Delhi High Court’s rule of no victory procession. The plea alleged that such processions amounted to contempt of court and were also in violation of the Lyngdoh Committee recommendations. The court had previously made it clear that no candidate or student of the university or supporter could take out a victory procession following the declaration of results. The court had also warned that the counting of votes and declaration of results could be stayed if the concerned authorities failed to take required measures regarding the “unruly conduct” during the election process.

During the Wednesday hearing, the court noted that all the show-cause notices had already been issued to DUSU candidates, including those who had won their respective elections and subsequently participated in the victory processions. Mr. Manchanda was asked to place all the relevant material related to these alleged violations before the court.

According to a report by The Hindu, the bench remarked, “This is not done. This is not done”, indicating the court’s concern over the alleged violations of its directions. However, on the positive side, it was also observed that in contrast to previous years, there had been a significant reduction in the defacement of public property. But the bench added that “much needs to be done.”

Senior advocate Kirti Uppal, counsel appearing for one of the candidates, argued that after winning the elections, people go through certain sentiments which are difficult to ignore or contain. She noted that such celebrations had remained relatively restrained this year and even dhols had not been brought out. Responding to this, the Chief Justice clarified that the drums were not the primary concern. Rather, he said, the difficulty lay in the show of “muscle and money power” by these candidates.

Image Source: NDTV

Ipshita Grover

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Admission Season

Delhi University Relaxes Criteria for Minor Subject Selection Under UGCF

By DU Beat July 31, 2025

Delhi University introduces greater flexibility in minor subject selection under UGCF, removing GE paper restrictions to promote interdisciplinary learning and ease progression to postgraduate studies.

In a significant academic reform aligned with the principles of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, Delhi University (DU) has announced greater flexibility for undergraduate students in choosing their minor disciplines under the Undergraduate Curriculum Framework (UGCF). The university released a notification on Tuesday making it clear that students will no longer be required to opt for specific General Elective (GE) papers in order to pursue a particular subject as a minor.

Until now, students aiming to take up a subject as a minor had to select related GE papers in earlier semesters. This often restricted academic freedom, particularly for those wishing to explore disciplines outside their primary area of study. The latest move by DU removes this limitation, thus widening the scope for interdisciplinary education. According to the official notification, the minor can now be chosen independent of the GE papers taken earlier. This change is expected to benefit students who are aiming for postgraduate studies in fields apart from their major, as it will now be easier to qualify for diverse academic paths without being confined by past elective choices.

A senior university official explained that the structure was originally implemented to uphold academic standards and ensure that students had sufficient subject familiarity before applying for postgraduate programs.

This reform is part of a broader shift in Indian higher education policy. The University Grants Commission (UGC) recently introduced new guidelines that promote flexibility and student autonomy in selecting both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. The 2025 UGC reforms have made it clear that any student, regardless of their academic background, can pursue a postgraduate course in any discipline, provided they clear the requisite entrance examination. In this context, Delhi University’s step appears both timely and in alignment with national academic trends.

For students, the revised policy means greater agency in shaping their academic trajectory. A student majoring in political science, for instance, can now opt for a minor in economics or philosophy without having taken prior GE papers in those disciplines. However, sceptics believe that this will result in a non-proficient academic career. A student who would obtain a minor in a non-parent subject would not be acquainted with this discipline well enough. Having studied GE papers of one subject would at least instill a sense of familiarity with the discipline.

Feature Image source- Telegraph India

Madhav Choudhary

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Campus Central

DU Vice Chancellor faces heavy backlash following his endorsement of ‘Modi vs Khan Market Gang’

By DU Beat January 19, 2025

Delhi University Vice Chancellor, Yogesh Singh, faced heavy criticism from faculty members on 16 January, 2025, Thursday, after he endorsed Ashok Srivastava’s ‘Modi vs Khan Market Gang.’

On 16 January, 2025, Delhi University Vice Chancellor, Yogesh Singh, appeared to endorse the Bharatiya Janata Party ahead of the Delhi election scheduled for February. The endorsement came at a book launch held at the Convention Hall of the Vice Chancellor’s office, organised by the Council of Media and Public Policy and Research along with the Silence Foundation in collaboration with Delhi University. The book titled ‘Modi vs Khan Market Gang’ has been authored by Ashok Shrivastava, a news anchor for the state-sponsored public broadcaster, DD News.

Khan Market Gang was notably a strategic attempt to take digs at the opposition in the lead-up to the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. It was in response to the opposition parading “Chowkidar Chor hai” at the incumbency at the time. Khan Market, a double-storey complex amidst bungalows that pay host to lawmakers and civil servants, is often considered the most expensive retail area in India. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who doesn’t shy away from letting people know about his humble beginnings, uses this as a political binary against the elites of the Indian socio-political system.

The main objective of the book, according to Srivastava, was to make people in academia aware of the fake narratives that have been thrown around during the incumbent’s tenure. As has been a recurring theme of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) attempts to deal with critics, Prime Minister Narendra Modi once again was talked about synonymously with India at the event. Those who weren’t uncritical of the government, both the journalists and notably institutes abroad, were called out and mocked subsequently.

Sweden, smaller than most Indian states, decided to establish V-Dem several years ago and deemed India undemocratic ahead of both the 2019 and the 2024 elections. A nation as small as that critiquing us makes sense when you look at the people funding it,”

said Yogesh Singh whilst talking about the various anecdotes Srivastava had used in his book to prove how the “Khan Market Gang” transcends borders and nationalities.

Singh didn’t shy away from his allegiances at a time when the model of conduct was placed in the state. He suggested that the Indians enjoy unprecedented freedom and that the global rankings and indexes are all part of a broader narrative against the prime minister and thus India. India curiously ranks 159 out of 189 countries in the latest edition of the Press Freedom Index. His statement comes at a time when central universities have never been more politicised. The changes brought forth by the National Education Policy (NEP), in the curriculums and the regular seminars and events in colleges that align with the ideological tilts of the government, reflect a growing trend of educational spaces turning into arenas for parroting the broader narrative set forth by the ruling party and a slow departure from the intelligentsia.

The event was attended by the members of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidhyarthi Parishad, the youth wing of the BJP, who have themselves been in hot water following the incident where they were seen assaulting students in Ramjas College. Several high-profile BJP leaders were also present at the event where Yogesh Singh was described as the “Chief Organiser” by Ashok Srivastava.

Several Delhi University faculty members condemned the book launch at a time when the model of conduct was in force in Delhi.

Abha Dev Habib, an assistant professor at Miranda House, deemed the event “a political misuse of a publicly funded university” in a conversation with The Print.

I am amazed to find that in a premier public-funded university, where scores of faculty members routinely publish their work on a myriad of issues, including publications in support of the current ruling regime’s policies or critical of the ruling establishment, the university administration has decided to privilege a publication like that of Mr. Ashok Shrivastav, who is an outsider to the university,”

said Maya John, an assistant professor at Jesus and Mary College, in an email to the vice-chancellor.

Prakash Singh, part of both the organisation team and DU’s South campus director, denied that the event was linked to DU and that DU had simply received a “request” for the use of its space for the event, despite Srivastava deeming Singh the “Chief Organiser” of the event.

Featured Images Credits: @UnivofDelhi on X

Yash Raj

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DUB News

Key Faculty Members Laid Off at LSR; the Ad-Hoc Crisis Strikes Again

By Shikhar Pathak July 22, 2024

The Delhi University Admin Cycle of ad-hoc replacement strikes at LSR, as reputed teachers from departments get replaced. What follows is absolute silence from the college administration.

After the ad-hoc replacements of Mr. Samarveer Singh at Hindu College, and Dr. Itisha Nagar at KNC, the unsettling trend continues, with Ms. Pushplata Kumar from LSR being the most recent case.

On 20th July, 2024, the esteemed Department of Journalism, at Lady Shri Ram College(LSR) suffered a crucial setback when the news of the non-retention of Ms. Pushplata was received. This comes as a part of the continual cycle of Delhi University, wherein the ad-hoc professors are being granted permanent status, while some ad-hoc professors are being replaced from their posts. However, the lack of transparency in the process, alleged political powerplay, and unjust temperament had sparked concern and discontentment amongst the students, at the loss of such qualified and cherished academicians. Protests by both DUTA and the students, have not resulted in any change in the opaque procedure undertaken by the University of Delhi.

Ms. Pushplata, who had been teaching under the aegis of the Journalism Department of LSR for 9 years as an ad-hoc professor, experienced a similar situation when her non-retention was notified. This comes as a shock to the students, most of whom credit her for their ignited interest in the subjects of Advertisement, Public Relations, Media Industry Management et al., and as a constant source of guidance in their career trajectories. Given the brevity of the situation, DU Beat reached out to students from the Department, and under the guise of Anonymity, they spoke about the unjust mannerism under which the department functions, the replacement of Pushplata Ma’am, being one of the many commented one of the Students, expanding upon the mismanagement within the Journalism Department. They further stated that most of the guest lectures and talks under their tenure were held by Ms. Pushplata, and through the exceptional network she had within the industry, she would also provide aid for students to obtain better career opportunities.

Since 2016, LSR has been the top college within DU for Journalism; for 5 consecutive years, and in 2020, the top four positions within Journalism were taken by LSR, so when the teacher(s) are giving such exemplary results, then their non-retention comes up as a greater dismay,

Another student from the department spoke about the zeal she developed within them for the subjects, sharing that,

She taught us the practicality of the subject, taught us how we can move beyond the scope of televised advertisements, and work for change. Ma’am made sure we attended film festivals, and introduced us to people from the industry, so that we could realize and work on the scope of our careers.

These testimonials from students become a vital point, in correlation to the fact that these decisions have a direct impact on the academic lives of the students, and thus, their consensus and feedback should be an important parameter before undertaking a drastic step like this.

The students took to social media to raise their opposition against this drastic step. This is a remarkable moment, given the “reduced sense of political temperament amongst the newcomers”, as alleged by an alumna of the college. In conversation with DU Beat, one of the students mentioned how this apoliticism of the students is a reflection of the improper supervision of the admin and the senior management of LSR,

Here at LSR, one can see the difference when a student enters here, and exits. They don’t bother talking about their concerns, for they know nothing would happen and a ‘Blame Chain’ would be formulated.

The incident at LSR further adds to the chain of questions about the opacity and unjust mechanisms used by the colleges and selection committees. And a perplexity about the lack of consensus from the students regarding a decision that not only has an impact on the reputation of the college, but also the academic (and otherwise) lives of the students.

Featured Image Credits: DU Beat

Shikhar Pathak

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Campus Central

SSCBS Staff Protest: Salaries Not Paid Since the Past Three Months

By Ankita Baidya March 1, 2024

Teachers and non-teaching staff of SSCBS continue to protest, as they have still not received their salaries and it has disrupted their personal lives.

The last time I paid my home’s E.M.I. was in November because that’s the last time I was paid my salary,

– said Dr. Narander Kumar Nigam, who is a professor at Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies (SSCBS).

Professors, along with the non-teaching staff, have not been paid their salaries for the past three months. Due to this, everyone, including the students, is facing issues at the college. SSCBS is one of the 12 Delhi University (DU) colleges that finds itself amidst the ongoing row between the Delhi government and DU.

Due to the non-payment of salaries, teachers are under massive financial stress. Dr. Nigam enumerated how it has become difficult to go about their everyday lives. Professors are unable to pay their children’s fees, loans, or medical bills. Dr. Nigam stated that he had to borrow money from his relatives, even though both he and his wife are employed.

When I am doing everything that I am expected to do, from taking classes to evaluating papers, then why am I not paid for that work?

– Dr. Narander Kumar Nigam, professor, SSCBS

Ayush, a student of SSCBS, also explained that it is very taxing for the professors to take classes under such circumstances. He further noted that this is not the first time such a thing has happened. Dr. Nigam, too, noted that this is a consistent thing that they have been experiencing since the pandemic.

People have to take loans just to meet their daily needs or clear medical bills.

– Ayush, a student of SSCBS

Further, as per Dr. Nigam, the faculty strength at the moment is 22, but the sanctioned strength is 44. Moreover, he explained that, as per University Grants Commission (UGC) guidelines, the strength should have been around 70. SSCBS has around 50 societies and 20 committees, and it is becoming difficult to manage all of them.

Sirf 22 faculty members ke saath, ek teacher kitna sambhal sakta hai? (There are only 22 faculty members; how much can one teacher handle?)

-Dr. Narander Kumar Nigam, professor, SSCBS

Professors at SSCBS have been protesting against the situation. However, they have collectively made sure that the students should not suffer, and till now no class has been suspended, though they claimed that the emotional stress of it all continues to be present among both the students and the teachers. Given the fact that the final semester students will be appearing for their final exams in less than three months, professors continue to take all the classes.

The students of SSCBS have shown their solidarity with the teachers. According to Ayush, on February 12, the student council of the college urged everyone to wear black as a “symbolic gesture” to show their solidarity.

Teachers have been protesting every day at the college. Dr. Nigam claimed that the teachers protest only during their free time so that students are not affected. As per the students, this may be one of the reasons that people outside the college are under the impression that the “protest” may not be serious.

Students of the college also feel that significant steps towards making the problem known have not been taken due to its location. Ujjwal, a student at SSCBS, has expressed that, though SSCBS is an off-campus college, it has charted good ranks for itself. But, due to its location, the ongoing situation at the college has not yet come to light.

If it were a college on North Campus, the situation would have garnered attention.

– Ujjwal, student of SSCBS

Furthermore, as per a statement by the Delhi government in January, it will release the funds to the 12 DU colleges only when they are de-affiliated to become a part of Delhi’s state universities. However, the students at SSCBS feel very differently about this.

The mindset of the students at SSCBS is different. Apart from wanting to get the “DU degree,” we want the college to stay under DU because a college like SSCBS should be associated with a name that can justify its stature. All the students and the professors here have worked hard to build up the institution’s name. We cannot accept going under the Delhi government

-Expressed Vasu, a student of SSCBS.

Nevertheless, as per the students, the emotional turmoil that the professors are undergoing has led to irregularities in how and what is being taught in classes. Ujjwal expressed:

Though the teachers are doing their best, sometimes they come to class, share their experience, and leave.

Dr. Nigam further shared that when they take classes, it is very difficult for a teacher to keep their emotions or things that are going around in their minds outside the class. Though the principal of the college is sympathetic towards the issues and has allegedly asked the teachers to continue their classes, both the students and the teachers are under immense emotional duress. Students and teachers at SSCBS have a lot of concern for the reputation and the educational quality that their college commands. However, things look dull as teachers and non-teaching staff continue the protest for their salaries.

Featured Image Credits: Student Council of SSCBS

DUTA Demands Release of Salaries and Other Dues

Ankita Baidya

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Campus Central

Protests Against Caste Discrimination at Delhi University Intensify During Mass-Demonstration

By DU Beat February 10, 2024

The ongoing protest against the alleged systematic oppression and institutionalised caste discrimination intensified violently during a recent mass protest at the North Campus of Delhi University.

Trigger Warning: Casteism, Caste-Based Discrimination, Alleged Police Brutality, and Physical Violence.

Along with hundreds of other protestors, Dr. Ritu Singh was arrested by the Delhi Police outside Gate Number 4 of the Arts Faculty on Tuesday, February 6, after she had been demonstrating against the purported caste prejudice at Delhi University for more than 160 days. Dr. Singh, previously employed as an ad-hoc teacher in the Psychology Department of Daulat Ram College (DRC), has been advocating for justice by calling for the resignation of DRC’s principal, Dr. Savita Roy, citing alleged instances of caste-based discrimination. Following her termination during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, Dr. Ritu asserts that she was dismissed without prior notice, despite directives from the Ministry of Human Resource Development stipulating the retention of contract-based teachers. Accusing the principal of singling her out due to her prominence within the Dalit community, Dr. Singh also alleges that her objections to her termination resulted in her being subjected to caste-based insults and renewed threats.

Drawing support from across the nation, Dr. Ritu called upon individuals via social media to join her in a mass agitation against the prevalent caste-based discrimination in educational institutions and to hold the Vice-Chancellor of Delhi University accountable. As per reports, on February 6 at 10:00 a.m., Dr. Ritu Singh and over 25,000 demonstrators from across India attempted to reach the protest location through the ‘Vallabhai Patel Chest Institute’. However, they encountered police buses and personnel deployed at the designated protest area to apprehend all supporters expressing solidarity. Bhumika Saraswati, a journalist providing detailed coverage of the protest, reported that there was heavy deployment not only of the police but also of Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB), also known as the Armed Border Force, operating under the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF). It is purported that protestors were subjected to physical mistreatment, forcibly dragged and detained in 50–60 police buses, and faced casteist -slurs by the police personnel. Dr. Ritu herself was apprehended and transported to the Maurice Nagar Police Station. Reportedly, some protestors were taken to Jaffarpur Kalan Police Station, located roughly 35 kilometres away from the initial detention site, where they were allegedly forced to line up and subjected to verbal abuse.

It was dehumanising. I do not think a protest where the majority is from the upper caste will face such abuse.

– A fellow protestor commented.

In a video shared by Dr. Singh on her social media displaying injuries and bruises, she accused individuals affiliated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) of “attempted murder.” She claimed that these individuals employed knives and lathis (batons) against the protesters and purportedly hurled searing tea onto the face and body of ‘Bhim Army Student Federation’ (BASF) President Ashutosh Bodhh.

We have been attacked by RSS goons. They have declared that as long as they are present, no one can take action against the Vice-Chancellor or Savita Roy. This university is not a safe place for Dalits at all.

– Dr. Ritu Singh discussed it on her Instagram page (@officialdrritusingh).

Featured Image Credits: @officialdrritusingh

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Student Unions and the Queer Community: Authentic Representation or Queer Baiting?

By DU Beat June 16, 2023

“Parade of Power, Pride and Resistance- March for Progressive and Inclusive Campuses” read the poster of the pride parade organised by Students’ Federation of India (SFI). However, the march was met with strong opposition from members of the queer community, who accused SFI of queer baiting and alleged that the parade was nothing more than tokenism.

On June 1, 2023, the North Campus of Delhi University was engulfed in the colours of the pride flag. Hundreds of marching feet echoed across campus as the Student Federation of India (SFI) organised a pride parade to celebrate and support the LGBTQIAP+ community. Horizontal reservations for transgender students, GSCASH implementation, gender-neutral washrooms, queer-inclusive mental health cells, and anti-ragging cells were among some of the top demands of this year’s pride parade.

However, the parade drew strong criticism not only from queerphobes but also from members of the community who accused SFI of queer baiting. Many queer student activists and members of queer collectives and gender cells across Delhi alleged that the pride march is nothing more than SFI’s tokenistic attitude. The SFI’s ignorance or inaction on queer matters throughout the year created a solid foundation for these allegations. Many queer activists and students chose not to participate in the parade. This caused a heated debate within the community.

If not SFI then who? The majority of student unions have historically neglected queer issues, and this continues to be the case today. Whether it is NSUI, ABVP, or AISA. SFI is the only student organisation that talks about queer rights and organises pride parades on campus that are attended by hundreds of people and stands out for queer rights. It’s still better than doing nothing even if they are only doing it for political reasons.

-Prakhar Gangwar (He/They)

Some people in the community, however, believe that building a new room is better than making concessions or attempting to fit into a certain space.

Most political parties or student unions don’t care about queer issues. They talk about rights when doing so serves their political objectives. Abolishing such places sends a loud and clear message that queer lives are not a commodity to be exchanged for votes. Resisting tokenistic behaviours will likely lead to a successful organisation that cares about queer rights.

-Astha Bansal (She/Her)

But in a country like India, where everything revolves around politics, Is this really a good option?

You can’t abolish such spaces. Majority of the country is still unaware about the queer community. It is only cities like Delhi, Mumbai or other metropolitan cities which give you freedom and a chance to organise and attend queer events like pride parades where you get to meet people from the community and freely express yourself.

-Pravishti (She/ Her)

The conversation on whether the pride parade was just a bait or not became pertinent after a few people who attended the parade posted about their experiences on social media.

It appeared to be an SFI political rally. The number of SFI flags heavily outnumbered the number of pride flags.

-Anonymous (She/They)

It was not an apolitical pride parade. A political party organised a political pride parade. So, of course, we’ll have our flags. I identify as queer. I would not have stayed here if SFI uses pride parade as a queerbaiting tool. As a queer student, I say that SFI supports us, and I say this as the president of Indradhanush: The queer affirmative of ZHDC (Morning), not as a representative of SFI. If SFI stops to be the support system, the QC won’t last a single day.

-Arnab Adhikari (He/Him), SFI Member & President of Indradhanush

According to Arnab, the absence of effective social media management has resulted in this debate.

We aren’t handling social media properly. We don’t talk much about the work we do on social media. We all realised that we must communicate, we must post more to avoid such misunderstandings.

-Arnab Adhikari (He/Him)

Pride month always brings discussions around queer baiting into the limelight. Pride month, when it comes to queerbaiting gets reduced to nothing more than a celebration of the unfair privilege enjoyed by the dominant segment of the queer community. The privileged section of the community, largely cis-gay men who dominate most queer spaces, is at the top, while the transgender community is at the bottom. To fully understand this, we must first acknowledge that hierarchy and dominance are inevitable, and, consequently, this cycle of dominance also exists within the queer community. Cis-gay men dominate most queer spaces, tokenistic behaviour by political parties or corporations has little influence on them, and they continue to feed corporate tokenism and empty politics and benefit from it at the same time.

Featured Image Credits: Instagram Page- DU Beat and SFI Delhi

Dhruv Bhati

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Man, Woman & Metamorphosis: Gender Fluidity in Ancient Lore

By Samra Iqbal June 16, 2023

While the idea of fluidity in gender might seem new to people, it is not a modern phenomenon. Examples of bending identities from history and myth can pave the way for deeper perspectives on this long-established concept.

When I was first introduced to the concept of gender fluidity, the notion felt familiar instead of strange. As a devoted explorer of mythology and folklore, I had long been reading about Gods and mortals who transcended the confines of the gender binary. On the contrary, a well-received opinion today is that fluidity is a contemporary phenomenon. A 21st-century ‘invention’, even. Doesn’t this claim conveniently erase the rich history of fluid identities throughout cultures of the world?

For a brief overview, gender fluidity means flexibility in one’s gender identity or expression, or both. It’s about not feeling tied to a single gender label, allowing it to shift and change with time. It plays a significant role in understanding diverse gender identities. For centuries, if not millennia, traditions across the world have recognized and honoured gender nonconformity. As we celebrate Pride this month, it’s imperative to show appreciation and learn from them the vast ways gender can be perceived.

A recurring theme in Hindu mythology that I grew up fascinated with, is that of Gods and Goddesses often blurring the lines between masculine and feminine. The ‘Puranas’ recite various tales of this including one where Shiv merges with Shakti to become Ardhanarishwara, (Sanskrit: Lord who is half-woman) who is seen in many Southeast Asian sculptures. Another story is that of Shikhandi, who was born into a female body but always knew was a man and later entered the battlefield of Kurukshetra as one. It was also ordinary for Gods to turn into Goddesses to enchant ‘Asuras’! In Norse mythology, Loki is a famous gender-bending entity. In Greek myth, the prophet Teiresias spent seven years as a woman, and in Mesopotamian lore, the Goddess of fertility and love is depicted with both masculine and feminine elements.

Ardhanarishwara sculpture in Mumbai, Source: Elephanta Caves Web,

While such beliefs provide significant insight into the perception of gender thousands of years ago and still remain a part of cultures worldwide, people may find it hard to see some sense of reality in it as it is lore, after all. This is why it’s essential to also discuss credible historical accounts of gender fluidity that go a little less far back into history.

Flourishing cultures have not only accepted but also revered the dynamic nature of gender. One of the more prominent instances is that of the Native Americans. In their societies, the existence of feminine men, masculine women, and transgendered people was ubiquitous. They were called “two-spirit” people and were considered strikingly knowledgeable. There were no rules regarding expression of identity and cross-dressing was routine. With the advent of the Europeans, this flexibility was no longer tolerated. The Mahus of Hawaii and Tahiti, who never put restrictions on gender identity, met with a similar fate after colonization. Certain ethnic groups in Madagascar would raise their boys with long hair and multiple piercings if they tended to show feminine traits and this practice is still prevalent. These are only scattered examples from a myriad of customs from all over the world.

While in some historical contexts, queerness might have had a negative connotation, it’s refreshing to realize that more often than not it was nothing out of the ordinary. Its acceptance sure did gradually plummet after the Euro-Western dominance, but its existence could simply never be questioned.

We’wha, a famous two-spirit, Source: Human Rights Campaign Web

For a modern interpretation, legends and lore about the fluidity of gender can be viewed through a lens of acceptance and inclusivity. These stories serve as a powerful reminder that gender has always existed along a diverse spectrum, and they should encourage us to pursue social structures that protect the dignity of all individuals, irrespective of expression or identity.

There will always be diversity in the human experience, let’s honour it. Today, as the modern world wrestles with the idea of accepting anything that is beyond the binary, remind yourself of this perpetual truth- Gender fluidity is as old as time itself.

Gender Fluidity Around the World

Featured Image Source: Medium

Arshiya Pathania

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