AUD PhD scholars begin indefinite sit-in over mandatory attendance; AISA joins protest

NEW DELHI: PhD scholars and students of Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD) on Monday began an indefinite sit-in at the Kashmere Gate campus, demanding a complete rollback of a July 31 circular making attendance mandatory for research scholars, as the All India Students' Association (AISA) joined the protest. The sit-in was called by the AUD Student Council Karampura (AUDSC KP) and the Joint Action Committee of AUD PhD scholars, who have been protesting for over two months against what they describe as "forced surveillance" and an "acute infrastructural crisis" in the university.

Following a "Chalo KG" call on September 22, attended by hundreds of students, the registrar held a meeting with protesters and later, on September 24, issued a notification stating that the PhD attendance-cum-whereabouts registry would be kept in "abeyance" until the infrastructure crisis is resolved. The students, however, have rejected this as insufficient and are demanding a complete rollback of all circulars issued on July 31.

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Rollback of attendance circular

A joint charter of demands drawn up by the protesters includes: complete rollback of all July 31 circulars; an end to the "garrisoning" of campus spaces and removal of iron gates; reinstatement of the PhD fee waiver; and ensuring students' representation at all levels of university decision-making, from the board of management to infrastructure grievance redressal committees.

Mrinalini, a CC member of AUDSC KP, said, "Our campus is falling apart in front of us, be it infrastructure, faculty, basic dignity or student rights. And the administration of a university named after Ambedkar meets us with pure apathy." AISA said it has joined the indefinite sit-in in solidarity with the PhD scholars and will continue the struggle until all demands are met.