Bhim Rao Ambedkar College staff on 2-day strike over assault on professor; seeks ban on political groups

The staff association of Dr Bhim Rao Ambedkar College is observing a two-day teaching strike on October 27 and 28 to protest the attack on teachers’ “dignity” following the slapping of a college professor by Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) leader. The teachers are also holding a dharna from 10 am to 2 pm on both the days with several demands including expulsion of DUSU joint secretary Deepika Jha and banning of political student groups within the premises.

The DU college staff has demanded a detailed action plan outlining the disciplinary measures taken against the students involved in violence on October 16 from the principal by tomorrow. A general body meeting will be held on October 29 to review the situation and discuss the further course of action.

Thanking the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA), staff associations of various colleges and faculty colleagues for their support and appealing for further solidarity, the staff body said that it will review the progress of the administration after the two-day strike and decide the future course of action accordingly.

In the last meeting held on October 22, the house asked the principal, chairman of the governing body, and university officials to issue an official condemnation letter of the attack, “upholding the dignity of the teaching community”.

Ban on DUSU activists, college-level inquiry

Demanding ban on DUSU activists besides the political groups on campus, the Ambedkar College association observed that their conduct led to chaos and violence marking a “black day” in the college’s history.

Not only has the college staff demanded removal of the DUSU secretary for physically assaulting a senior faculty member with over 32 years of experience but also the expulsion of BA third-year student Himanshu for allegedly repeatedly instigating violence despite being under suspension.

The house further wants that the “forced” resignation of professor Sujit Kumar from the convener discipline committee be treated as null and void. The committee must identify, through CCTV footage, and suspend all college students involved in the violence, it added.

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Among the staff association’s demands is a college-level inquiry to investigate the alleged role of Rakesh Yadav in the violence by provoking certain students. It also wants the principal to provide the professor a copy of the First Information Report (FIR) and permission to access the CCTV footage, while being transparent and fair amid the ongoing probe.

Condemning the act of violence, abuse, and manhandling by DUSU leaders and misbehaviour with female professors, the staff association of BR Ambedkar College said that the incident “represents an unprecedented breach of academic decorum and moral authority”. Affirming that the teaching fraternity stands united in defending institutional integrity and the honour of teachers, it appealed to the college administration and university authorities to act in the larger interest of justice, teacher dignity, and sanctity of academia.