VC Yogesh Singh: DU doesn’t require stringent protest measures like JNU

NEW DELHI: According to Yogesh Singh, the Vice Chancellor of Delhi University (DU), the institution does not deem it necessary to implement strict measures akin to those seen at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) to manage protests on campus. He emphasised the differing nature of both universities.

The Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in December last year introduced a revised Chief Proctor Office (CPO) manual imposing a fine of upto Rs 20,000 for staging protests in the prohibited areas of the campus and Rs 10,000 for raising “anti-national” slogans.

In an interview with PTI, the DU VC said regulations at the moment are not required in the university. “We are very different from JNU. It is a small size but reputed campus university. We, on the other hand, provide education to the masses. We have 6.5 lakh students and our impact and reach are all very different (from JNU). “Regulations will not help us right now, although we have required guidelines in place for protests. The students have to take permission and there is a place for any ‘dharna pradarshan’. DU in coordination with Delhi Police is managing everything and we are not facing any problem,” Singh said, while responding to the question if the university will consider introducing regulations like JNU to regulate protests on campus.

Asked for his reaction on former ad hoc teacher Ritu Singh’s protest, the vice-chancellor termed it as an “unfortunate” incident, adding that every day protests on campus disrupt the functioning of the university. “This is very unfortunate. It should not have happened. But we should realise everyday protests disturb the functioning of the university. Everyone should think about it. Beyond that I don’t want to comment on this,” stated the DU VC. Ritu Singh is among the hundreds of ad hoc teachers of Delhi University who are facing displacement due to the university’s shift towards permanent recruitment.

She has been staging sporadic protests against her displacement from DU’s Daulat Ram College in 2020, alleging that she was not selected due to caste-based discrimination by the college administration.

In March earlier this year, Singh set up a ‘pakoda’ stall outside DU’s Art Faculty to protest against the discrimination faced by the Dalit academics and raised concerns over educated youth staring at unemployment.

Addressing the issues, the vice-chancellor said the decision to discontinue the appointment of ad hoc teachers in DU was a “tough”

decision but was required in the interest of long

serving non-permanent

faculty.