For ‘protesting against principal’, Hindu College suspends, fines students

DU’s Hindu College has suspended over 20 students for two months and fined them Rs 10,000 for protesting against the principal last month over the annual cultural fest. Close to 15 students have also been issued a notice and fined Rs 10,000 for allegedly defrauding vendors called for the fest. Sources said some students had been served both notices.

“On the evening of April 21, 2023 (Friday), from 6 pm onwards, you blocked the way of the principal when she was going to attend a meeting at the university. You were a part of the mob that clung to the college gate(s) to prevent it from opening. With great difficulty, when the principal managed to exit from a resident’s gate and wanted to sit in the car, you blocked the movement of the car by standing or lying in its way. When the principal chose to walk down to reach the meeting venue, you shouted humiliating slogans,” the notice states. The principal could not be reached for comment.

“This gross misconduct and extremely inappropriate behaviour… has brought acute embarrassment and humiliation to the college in general and to the principal, in particular,” the notice states. The college fest was held on April 27 and 28. Students have been asked to submit the fine by Friday. The second notice alleged that a “large group of stall vendors took out a protest in front of the principal’s office, alleging financial fraud” by student organisers.

Among the complaints, the notice says, was “unreasonably high amounts charged for stalls/ different rates, transactions only in cash, commission charged over and above stall charges”. The notice states that promised facilities were not given to vendors. “…vendors demanded a refund of investment and threatened the college with stalling Mega Programme of Star Night if the authorities did not do the refund…,” says the notice.

(Inputs from PTI)