Delhi: Indefinite sit-in protest begins at Ambedkar university over PG student’s suspension

The protest comes days after AUD faculty received an email from the Dean of Academic Affairs last week, urging them to report classroom disruptions caused by students or student collectives.

“It has come to our attention that certain disruptions caused by students or student collectives have been affecting classroom instruction,” the Dean wrote. “With immediate effect, faculty members are required to implement the following measure: In cases where such incidents occur, it is imperative that faculty members report that event promptly.”

Faculty members have been instructed to document “specific details regarding the incident, including… date, time and location of the occurrence; name or identifying information of individuals or groups involved (if available); a brief description of the actions taken by the faculty to address the disruption”. These reports, the Dean stated, would be reviewed “for necessary action to maintain academic integrity and smooth functioning of the university”.

Referring to the Dean’s email, a source said, “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 AISA on Tuesday released a statement announcing the launch of an indefinite sit-in. “AISA today marked the first day of indefinite sit-in inside AUD that was joined by several students,” it said.

“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.”

The administration had suspended the student as per the order issued by the Proctorial Board, citing “indiscipline” and use of “derogative and disrespectful language against the head of the institution”. Sources at the varsity stated that the student attended a proctorial meeting where she was asked whether she still stood by what she had written about the V-C earlier

The incident had sparked outrage among students and professors, many of whom gathered last week in front of the V-C’s office to demand that the suspension be withdrawn.