On August 21, 2024, Delhi University (DU) temporarily suspended Jyoti Karki, a Master’s student in the Department of Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies and member of the student activist group Disha Student Organization (DSO), pending the results of a disciplinary investigation for writing “objectionable” slogans on a campus wall. On November 13, 2024, DU expelled Karki for 6 months.
On July 31, 2024, Karki and the DSO joined a nationwide student movement protesting exam irregularities from the National Testing Agency by planning their own student demonstration. After Karki and another DSO member observed that the designated space for writing slogans on campus was already full, Karki found an empty wall near the law faculty and wrote, “Scrap NTA, 9th August, Jantar Mantar; @disha_du” to raise awareness about the upcoming DSO protest. A security guard witnessed Karki’s actions and filed a First Information Report against Karki, leading to her initial suspension on August 21.
On September 30, Karki appealed to the Delhi High Court, arguing that her suspension was “arbitrary and illegal” as the university did not follow due process and did not issue a show-cause notice allowing Karki to defend her case.
Meanwhile, on November 13, an investigative committee at DU issued a 6-month expulsion notice to Karki for violating the Ordinance of Discipline for the Students of the University (Ordinance XV-B), which includes “willful destruction of university property.” According to university proctor Rajni Abbi, one of the members of the investigative committee assigned to evaluate Karki’s case, the decision to expel Karki was made by the Vice Chancellor, not the investigative committee itself.
The Delhi High Court later stayed Karki’s expulsion on November 25, 2024.
Scholars at Risk is concerned about the suspension of students for their exercise of their freedom of assembly, apparently without following proper due process. University authorities have an obligation to refrain from retaliatory actions intended to punish, restrict, or chill the exercise of the right to free expression and association and should employ transparent, fair processes when engaging in disciplinary actions. Such actions undermine academic freedom, institutional autonomy, and democratic society generally.
Sources:
https://article-14.com/post/court-stays-delhi-univ-student-s-expulsion-over-slogan-on-a-wall-but-crackdown-on-student-dissent-grows-nationwide–6757a96cb8439
https://maktoobmedia.com/india/delhi-university-expels-student-for-six-months-for-writing-scrap-nta-on-campus-wall/
https://x.com/disha_du_/status/1858725258355724603ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%7Ctwcamp%5Etweetembed%7Ctwterm%5E1858725258355724603%7Ctwgr%5Ee7b3a40b850f7a4a27c4bc9a43d0c1d86dc46b55%7Ctwcon%5Es1_&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fmaktoobmedia.com%2Findia%2Fdelhi-university-expels-student-for-six-months-for-writing-scrap-nta-on-campus-wall%2F
https://hinducollege.ac.in/ord-student.aspx