Delh Univ’s uneasy campus climate

New Delhi: A series of developments at University of Delhi has triggered widespread protests, reflecting a growing churn over student rights, campus governance and administrative policies.

At the centre of the unrest is a new regulation mandating prior permission for protests at least 72 hours in advance. While the administration maintains that the move is aimed at ensuring security and maintaining order, students and faculty argue that it restricts democratic expression and undermines the culture of dissent historically associated with the university.

Tensions escalated following allegations that a cultural programme organised under the Shaheed Yaadgari Abhiyan at the Arts Faculty to commemorate Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev Thapar, and Shivaram Rajguru was disrupted. Students claimed they faced intimidation prior to the event and confrontation during it, with reports alleging damage to posters of the martyrs.

Adding to the controversy are protests against events linked to the RSS-backed “Yuva Kumbh”, raising concerns among sections of students and teachers over ideological neutrality on campus. Recent administrative measures to tighten rules on gatherings, following incidents of violence, have further intensified the standoff. The unrest also coincides with a 17 per cent fee hike for the 2026–27 academic session, drawing criticism from students who say it will make education less accessible. Simultaneously, concerns over campus facilities have surfaced, with students of Miranda House staging a protest over poor food quality and inadequate portions in the hostel mess. Carrying empty utensils, the students highlighted what they described as prolonged neglect despite

repeated complaints.

With multiple issues converging from restrictions on protests to rising costs and basic amenities Delhi University appears to be navigating a critical moment, as students continue to assert their demands for accountability, inclusivity and the preservation of democratic spaces

within campuses.