Dr BR Ambedkar University Delhi informed the Delhi High Court on Tuesday that it would revoke the suspension and campus ban imposed on three students for allegedly violating its code of discipline related to ragging and bullying.
The students had alleged that they were suspended after they took up the case of another student who was being massively bullied. They said that instead of taking the matter seriously, they were suspended.
On Tuesday, however, the university expressed apprehensions that a few students who had “created ruckus” on the campus after the trio were suspended might again resort to protests and demonstrations.
Justice Vikas Mahajan then directed the three students, who challenged their suspension and campus ban before the court, not to participate in any protest or demonstration directly or indirectly related to the matter being inquired into.
On March 5, Anan Bijo, Nadia and Harsh Choudhary were suspended for a year, barred from entering the university campus, and threatened with rustication for further violations. As of March 21, the university had revoked the suspension of five other students who had been issued such orders.
The petitioner students, represented by advocates Abhik Chimni and Pranjal Abrol, argued they were suspended without being given showcause notices, statement of charges, notice of disciplinary proceedings or the opportunity of a reasonable hearing.
The university’s counsel, Mohinder Rupal, informed the court that since no showcause notice was issued to the suspended students, it was ready to consider the cases of the students afresh, and pending the fresh inquiry, they would be allowed to attend classes in the meantime.
Rupal, however, submitted that the suspended students had entered the campus on Monday as there was a commemorative function on the occasion of Ambedkar Jayanti.
He added that the university wanted the students to sign an undertaking that they will not take part in any protest or demonstration related directly or indirectly to the incident being inquired into.
According to reports, the undertaking states that the three students’ visit to the campus “shall be strictly limited to their classrooms, library, computer labs and faculty for their academic pursuit and their course/programme”.
Justice Mahajan, addressing the students’ counsel, remarked orally, “You’re there to study…should think of their parents also.”
Justice Mahajan also included a part of the undertaking’s condition in his order, cautioning that “petitioners will maintain strict discipline” and that they should not take part in any protest or demonstration, directly or indirectly related to the ongoing inquiry against them.
The vice-chancellor of the university, meanwhile, has directed the committee to complete its inquiry within six weeks after the issuance of showcause notices.
The three students have missed 41 days of attendance, other academic commitments including research paper submissions and presentations, and written exams in several subjects.
The Students Federation of India (SFI) welcomed the order and said that despite the “relentless crackdown by the AUD administration on its students, the high court has responded in favour of the students”.
“Simultaneous to this victory, the SFI led student Union of aud, AUDSC, had given a protest call which was joined by almost 200 students. The students were able to pressure the administration for a meeting, following which a proctorial review meeting has been scheduled for the remaining 5 students who were suspended when trying to meet the VC and Registrar after a student had fainted during the hunger strike,” it said in a statement.
