Teachers at Delhi University’s Hindu College have been on an indefinite protest since September 14, demanding the removal of Principal Anju Srivastava and an independent inquiry into alleged irregularities in admissions under the Sports and Extra-Curricular Activities quotas for the 2026-27 session.
The dispute centres on seat allocation. DU rules cap Sports and ECA seats in a single undergraduate programme at 20% of total seats. The Hindu College Staff Association says this limit was exceeded in BCom (Honours) and BA (Honours) Political Science, with 17 of 48 Sports and ECA seats going to BCom (Honours) and 15 to Political Science. The principal has said DU handles admissions centrally. DU has attributed the excess to a technical error in its admission algorithm.
The protest widened after the college’s governing body issued show-cause notices to two faculty members, including HCSA president Dr Ratan Lal, for criticising the administration. The notice accused Lal of conduct “unbecoming of a teacher” and warned of disciplinary action for “gross misconduct, indiscipline and insubordination.” The association says the notices amount to punishing faculty for raising legitimate institutional questions.
Teachers have since raised broader governance concerns — alleging that the elected Staff Council has been sidelined, demanding access to governing body minutes, audited accounts and procurement records, and questioning the naming of campus buildings after corporate donors. They have also flagged concerns about faculty appointments, fees, scholarships and the treatment of disadvantaged groups.
The protest has now entered its second month with no resolution in sight. The teachers want an independent inquiry within a fixed timeframe, the principal’s removal, and withdrawal of the disciplinary notices.
Source: Deccan Herald
