DU student expelled for six months for writing ‘scrap NTA’ on campus wall

The expulsion order, issued connected November 18, prohibits the pupil from attending classes, taking exams, oregon participating successful organization activities for six months.

“As portion of our agitation against the National Testing Agency (NTA), I wrote the words ‘SCRAP NTA’ connected 1 of the assemblage walls,” the pupil told The Indian Express. “I americium expressing what is bothering maine and voicing retired the issues successful my ain assemblage arsenic its student. I consciousness similar my close to state of code is being suppressed.”

She besides questioned the university’s consistency successful enforcing rules. “No enactment was taken by the assemblage when, arsenic portion of the DUSU (Delhi University Students’ Union) campaigning, galore students defaced the full university, pursuing which the Delhi High Court stayed the announcement of canvass results. When the assemblage did not instrumentality strict enactment against students belonging to definite parties who participated successful defacing the campus, past wherefore americium I being expelled?”

The contention began connected July 31, erstwhile the pupil was caught by DU information guards adjacent the Law Faculty Gate astir noon, penning slogans connected a wall. She was booked the aforesaid time by Maurice Nagar constabulary presumption nether Section 173 of the BNSS aft the guards filed a ailment with the police.

Following the FIR, the assemblage suspended her connected August 21. The notice, issued by her department, stated: “As communicated by the Proctor, University of Delhi, you are hereby suspended… with contiguous effect arsenic the assemblage received a transcript of FIR… stating that you were caught red-handed penning objectionable slogans connected the walls of the university.”

Speaking to The Indian Express, Proctor Rajni Abbi said connected Tuesday that aft the FIR was lodged, an enquiry committee was acceptable up, which recovered that the “student was not repentant astatine each for her actions”. “There are designated spaces successful the assemblage to constitute slogans, oregon paste posters; 1 cannot bash it anyplace arsenic this is simply a usurpation of the assemblage defacement acts,” she added.

“The incidental took spot adjacent earlier the DUSU elections and does not person thing to bash with the campaigning,” Abbi further said.

The enquiry committee held its archetypal gathering connected October 7, which the pupil missed arsenic she was retired of Delhi. At its 2nd gathering connected November 6, the pupil admitted to penning the slogans and described it arsenic portion of a “strategic plan” by Disha, the committee study said. It added that successful the sentiment of the committee, she neither felt blameworthy nor was repentant for defacing a partition of the university.

“As a result, the committee is of the sentiment that she should beryllium expelled from the assemblage for a play of astatine slightest six months. The committee recommended this deterrent punishment for (the student) arsenic a measurement to forestall pupil from defacement of the walls of the university.” the study added.

The pupil challenged her suspension successful the Delhi High Court. Her counsel, arsenic per an bid by the HC, dated October 3, argued that “unless the substance is investigated and the petitioner stands convicted, she should not endure the wrath of suspension order”. The HC is scheduled to perceive the lawsuit adjacent connected November 20.

“I americium expressing what bothers maine successful my ain university. I person not been attending classes for astir 2 months present since my suspension. I adjacent missed my interior introspection today. How is this fair,” the pupil asked.