Delhi University to reopen on February 17 after students protest: Report

NEW DELHI: Following students protest to resume physical classes, Proctor Rajni Abbi today announced that the Delhi University will reopen from February 17. The detailed notification regarding the resumption of physical classes will be issued tonight, he said, as per reports.

The decision was taken in an academic council meeting held today, February 9. Scores of students held a protest outside the office of Delhi University's vice-chancellor on Monday demanding immediate reopening of the campus, days after the Delhi Disaster Management Authority gave its nod to resume offline teaching in the national capital.

A Delhi University student allegedly tried to end his life by setting himself ablaze on Tuesday during a protest to demand the resumption of offline classes, police said. The student did not suffer any injuries, they said, adding that he was immediately rescued by the police and taken to the hospital, they said.

The Delhi Disaster Management Authority (DDMA) had allowed the reopening of higher educational institutions, coaching centres, and schools for Classes 9-12 following a drop in Covid-19 cases. The vice-chancellor of Delhi University, Yogesh Singh had said that the DU campus reopen in a few days and they will formulate a strategy in this regard.

"If the DDMA allows 100 per cent seating capacity, we will definitely reopen the campus. But we will give a few days time to our students, say 10 days, for returning to campus since a majority of students are from other states. We will formulate our own strategy," he said.

On Tuesday, the protesters belonging to various student bodies like the Students' Federation of India (SFI), All India Students' Association among others, demanded the reopening of the campus and also protested against the alleged ''manhandling'' of protesters by police on Monday. Police had earlier dismissed these allegations.