Delhi University has swiftly formed a six-member inquiry committee to thoroughly investigate the alleged assault on a faculty member at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College. The incident reportedly involves Deepika Jha, the Delhi University Students’ Union (DUSU) Joint Secretary, who is associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). Professor Neeta Sehgal from the Department of Zoology will lead this crucial committee, tasked by DU Vice-Chancellor Yogesh Singh to deliver its findings within two weeks. The panel comprises several distinguished members, including Professor Jyoti Trehan Sharma, Joint Proctor of DU; Professor (Dr) Rama, Principal of Hansraj College; Professor Swati Diwakar from the Department of Environmental Studies; Professor Darvinder Kumar, Principal of PGDAV College; and Awadhesh Kumar, Joint Proctor.
The Incident Unfolds
The controversy ignited following the online circulation of a video that purportedly depicts DUSU Joint Secretary Deepika Jha striking Professor Sujit Kumar, a senior faculty member from the Department of Commerce, within the principal’s office at Dr. Bhim Rao Ambedkar College. This alleged incident occurred while police personnel were present.
The Democratic Teachers’ Front (DTF) reported that Professor Kumar, who also heads the college’s disciplinary committee, was allegedly assaulted by Jha and other ABVP members while on duty. Professor Kumar recounted to reporters that the altercation began during a student union oath-taking ceremony and fresher’s party. He explained that after the newly elected union president was attacked by students, he intervened to stop the event.
“The elected president, who was to take the oath, was assaulted by some students. When he reported it to me, I assured him it wouldn’t happen again. But upon his return, he was attacked once more. When I declared the ceremony must stop, they began shouting. I ended the program immediately,” Professor Kumar stated.
He further alleged that a large group of DUSU members, estimated between 50 to 100, stormed the campus, physically attacked both male and female faculty, and then coerced him into resigning inside the principal’s office. “The police escorted me to the principal’s office with the student leaders, the principal, and other officials. There, they forced my resignation, which I signed. Subsequently, Deepika attempted to sit next to me, and when prevented, she stepped forward and slapped me,” Kumar claimed. A CCTV recording, reportedly shared by teachers, visually corroborates Jha rising during the discussion and striking the professor sitting beside her, with a female police officer seen trying to intervene.
Deepika Jha’s Side of the Story
Deepika Jha, in her defense, told the press that her visit to the college was motivated by student complaints regarding Professor Kumar’s alleged misbehavior and physical assault. She further claimed that inside the principal’s office, in front of police, Professor Kumar “threatened” her, used “abusive language,” and seemed to be under the influence of alcohol.
“Professor Sujit’s repeated threats, persistent staring, and inappropriate comments, particularly given his apparent intoxicated state, led me to react impulsively out of sheer distress and anger. I regret my actions, especially since the police present failed to intervene despite my immediate pleas,” Jha explained.
She concluded by offering an apology to the teaching community, asserting that she had “no intention whatsoever to disrespect teachers.”
Teachers’ Associations Call for Justice
In the wake of the incident, the Delhi University Teachers’ Association (DUTA) has formally urged the Vice-Chancellor to initiate a swift, transparent, and time-bound investigation. Expressing profound shock, DUTA emphasized, “To witness a senior teacher at B.R. Ambedkar College being slapped and assaulted by students on college premises while performing his duties is utterly reprehensible. Such violence is unacceptable in a democratic institution and constitutes a direct attack on a teacher’s dignity.”
The association further stressed that decisive action against those involved is crucial to deter future acts of indiscipline and lawlessness across the campus. Faculty members from various colleges have voiced their dismay, with Rudrashish Chakraborty, Associate Professor at Kirori Mal College, describing the event as “shocking but sadly predictable.” He alleged a pattern of unchecked aggression by ABVP members, claiming it is “enabled by the active patronage of the DU administration.”
Student Groups Demand Accountability
The incident has sparked widespread outrage among student organizations. Two prominent Left-affiliated groups, the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) and the All India Students’ Association (AISA), staged protests at Delhi University’s North Campus on Friday. They vehemently demanded Deepika Jha’s immediate resignation and stringent disciplinary measures.
The SFI condemned the assault as “a direct attack on the dignity and sanctity of educational spaces,” highlighting what they describe as “a growing pattern of intimidation and aggression by ABVP members.” AISA members surrounded the DUSU office, reiterating calls for the joint secretary’s immediate suspension. AISA Delhi University President, Saavy, declared, “This attack transcends an individual professor; it strikes at the very core of a university, undermining the freedom of thought and dissent for both teachers and students.”
Investigation Continues
The university administration has pledged an impartial investigation, assuring all stakeholders of a fair process. The six-member committee, under the leadership of Professor Neeta Sehgal, is meticulously reviewing all available evidence, including statements from those involved, video footage, and witness testimonies. The committee is slated to present its comprehensive findings to the Vice-Chancellor within the stipulated two-week period.