Latest news with #ProctorialBoard
Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Indian Express
Complaint boxes, helplines, vigilance squads: Delhi University rolls out anti-ragging measures ahead of new session
With the new academic session set to kick off in a few days, Delhi University has rolled out anti-ragging measures designed to enforce discipline and ensure the safety of thousands of new students. Following a meeting of the university's Proctorial Board on July 28, attended by senior officials from Delhi Police and the varsity's administration, the Registrar's office issued guidelines outlining new steps for 2025-26 to 'strictly enforce rules and regulations…' The measures include old and new strategies: campus surveillance, anonymous complaint mechanisms, parental undertakings, digital helplines, and coordinated vigilance squads. Starting August 1, the university will operate two Joint Control Rooms — one each in the North and South Campuses — until August 8. Further, Anti-Ragging Day will be observed on August 12, followed by Anti-Ragging Week from August 12-18, as per the University Grants Commission's instructions. The university's anti-ragging framework — summarised in a detailed circular — includes multiple reporting channels. Students can call the UGC's 24×7 helpline, email the Proctor, or use the Anti-Ragging and Himmat mobile apps. Local control rooms and the campus police vehicle 'VAMIKA' have also been mobilised. Sealed complaint boxes are being placed in front of principals' offices, especially in undergraduate colleges with hostels, 'for the benefit of potential victims of ragging to enable them to put their complaints/ suggestions to college authorities,' the circular reads. The responsibility of addressing these complaints lies with designated officials in each college. This year's protocol is part of a broader architecture that's been built for years. Institutions have been told to erect banners, billboards and posters 'exhorting students to prevent or not to indulge in ragging,' and to ensure that 'each student carries his/her own identity card'. Entry to the college premises is to be regulated via ID verification by security personnel. 'Any acts of indiscipline, ragging will be dealt with strictly under the University's Statutes (and) Ordinances,' the Registrar said in the latest release, adding that hoardings in English and Hindi have been placed in 'strategic locations' across both campuses. The university has also warned that consequences for ragging may include suspension, expulsion, cancellation of degree, cancellation of admission, and debarment from examinations. College heads are required to submit weekly anti-ragging compliance reports for the first three months of the session, and monthly thereafter. All students and hostel residents must also now submit a parent/guardian-signed anti-ragging undertaking at the time of admission. In 2021, too, DU had issued similar guidelines and instructions to appoint a Disciplinary Resource Person (DRP) in every college, hostel, and department — tasked with liaising with the Proctor's office. The 2021 guidelines also encouraged a more empathetic approach: colleges were advised to assign new students a personal consultant or mentor, helping them emotionally adjust to their new environment. The guidelines emphasised that 'specific care should be taken to avoid harassment of any student based on caste, sex, religion,' and that in such cases, 'preventive actions are more important than punitive actions'.
Indian Express
28-07-2025
- Indian Express
New students, parents to sign anti-ragging declarations: Delhi University issues fresh guidelines
As the new academic session begins, the University of Delhi held a meeting of its Proctorial Board on Monday to chalk out measures for ensuring a smooth and secure induction process for incoming students. With the focus on maintaining campus discipline and preventing incidents of ragging, a slew of decisions were taken to enforce a zero-tolerance approach. Colleges and departments have been directed to strictly implement relevant rules and regulations, particularly Ordinances XV-B and XV-C, and the provisions of the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013. Key Measures Announced: Mandatory Anti-Ragging Undertaking: All newly admitted students and their parents/guardians must submit an undertaking against ragging at the time of admission through the national portal as per the directives of the Hon'ble Supreme Court. Joint Control Rooms: Two control rooms will operate in North Campus (Tel: 27667221) and South Campus (Tel: 24119832) from August 1 to August 8 to address student concerns and provide immediate assistance. Observance of Anti-Ragging Week: As per UGC guidelines, Anti-Ragging Day will be observed on August 12, followed by an Anti-Ragging Week till August 18. Widespread Awareness: Anti-ragging posters in English and Hindi have been displayed at key locations across both campuses. Restricted Entry and Monitoring: Colleges and hostels are to restrict outsider entry and prominently display anti-ragging rules. They are also directed to form Anti-Ragging Committees and Vigilance Squads with the help of NCC/NSS student volunteers. Police Pickets and Patrolling: Police pickets will be posted outside every college, with special attention to women's colleges. Regular patrolling will be conducted across campus to ensure student safety. Deployment of Women Police: Delhi Police has assured the deployment of plainclothes women personnel within and around college premises to prevent ragging and eve-teasing. Verification of PG Accommodations: Students opting for paying guest accommodations have been advised to ensure that their residences are duly verified by local police authorities. Online Complaint Mechanism: Police officials emphasized streamlined mechanisms for filing ragging complaints, including online reporting and cybercrime referrals. Regular Compliance Reports: Under UGC's 2009 anti-ragging regulations, all institutional heads must submit weekly compliance reports for the first three months of the academic year, and monthly reports thereafter. These must be sent to the University Proctor at proctor@ The University reiterated that any act of ragging or indiscipline would invite serious consequences, including suspension, expulsion, cancellation of degree or admission, withholding of results, or being barred from classes and examinations.
Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Violence of any kind in society should not be overlooked: Ambedkar University Delhi V-C amid unrest on campus
Amid growing campus unrest and allegations of a crackdown on dissent, Vice-Chancellor of Dr B R Ambedkar University Delhi (AUD), Anu Singh Lather, has defended the administration's actions and her own controversial Republic Day speech, insisting that the university remains a democratic space that respects academic freedom. 'Violence of any kind in any society should not be overlooked,' Lather told The Indian Express, as she addressed the months-long tension triggered by a student's suspension, faculty disciplinary proceedings, and demonstrations over her speech that praised the Ram Mandir and urged that B R Ambedkar be seen as a national figure. In her Republic Day speech, Lather had referred to the Ram Janmabhoomi movement as a 525-year-old issue, applauded the construction of the Ram Temple and called for Dr B R Ambedkar to be a recognised as a national figure instead of being seen only as a Dalit. It had drawn sharp criticism from student activists and some faculty members, who said it politicised an academic platform and undermined AUD's ethos. The unrest began in March after a final-year MA student was suspended for six months for allegedly criticising Lather's speech in an email sent through AUD's official internal system. The Proctorial Board, citing 'indiscipline' and the use of 'derogatory and disrespectful language against the Head of the Institution', had suspended and barred the student from the campus. 'We found out about the student's comments through an email that she had written,' Lather said. 'My only appeal to my students is to not distort anything I say. My comments on the Ram Janmabhoomi in my speech can be found in the video online. They should not be viewed with an agenda. AUD is a democratic space and all ideologies have a space on this campus. We do not punish students for sharing their views on campus as long it does not cross a line,' she added. Lather further said, 'Even in the case of the MA student, there is a certain policy and certain bodies take cognizance of actions by students on campus. The Proctorial Board had decided to take action against the student. I had intervened and later on written to the board to take a lenient view on the student's case.' In April, protests had intensified after associate professor Kaustav Banerjee was issued a show-cause notice for allegedly 'inciting disorder' during a student-led demonstration. The notice accused him of delivering a 'provocative speech' that disrupted order and prompted police intervention. 'Two issues had come up. First was the suspension of the MA student and the second was the protests that took place on campus in relation to an alleged suicide attempt at Karampura campus. They both happened one after the other. Violence of any kind in any society should not be overlooked,' Lather said. The administration has since suspended several students after a protest in April allegedly turned confrontational. Registrar Navlendra Kumar Singh had earlier told The Indian Express that demonstrators surrounded his vehicle, causing damage, and refused to disperse until they were allowed to meet the V-C. 'We have filed a police complaint. The FIR is yet to be registered. The students want to meet the V-C, but the V-C is not ready, as their approach is aggressive. We are ready to address the issues, but there needs to be a proper way to have a conversation,' Singh said. Lather defended the call to file a police complaint, saying that the move was to ensure safety on campus. She added that disciplinary actions were the result of institutional processes, not ad hoc calls. 'The university decides on actions; it is never a reaction. The Proctorial Board has patiently handled the students' issues on this campus,' she said. While Lather maintained that AUD upholds ideological plurality and due process, student groups alleged that the actions taken against them reflect an erosion of academic and democratic values. The suspended student, who is affiliated with the All India Students' Association (AISA), had earlier told The Indian Express, 'The action taken by the administration is representative of a larger and sustained attack on the academic and democratic spirit of AUD.'
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
V-C inaugurates open air theatre, selfie-points at Pondicherry University
Pondicherry University has launched a host of facilities, including an open air theatre. Prakash Babu, Vice-Chancellor, who formally opened the theatre, said the facility was aimed at fostering creativity of the youth on campus. The open air theatre is a stage for not only cultural events, but also for informal intellectual discourse among the students and scholars, he said. The Vice-Chancellor later inaugurated the office of the Proctorial Board of the University. The Pondicherry University Proctorial Board Regulations, he said, were formulated after careful reference of other Central universities by a duly-constituted committee to maintain discipline and ensure code of conduct among students on the campus. (The decision to impose a code of conduct had drawn condemnation from the Pondicherry University Students' Council which had stated that 'the measure was a way of forcing undefined moral standards which could be weaponised against students voicing dissent.' Eventually, this would lead to 'criminalising expression and participation and silencing of dissent with punishments that overreach legal boundaries', the Council feared.) Y. Venkata Rao, Dean, Students' Welfare contended that the provision for Proctorial Board was as per the Pondicherry University Act, 1985. With the University expanding and adding courses with a large number of students enrolling, it was necessary to constitute the Proctorial Board to ensure that disciplinary processes were followed by adhering to principles of natural justice and teaching and learning activities were carried out smoothly without any disturbances. The composition of the Board has a broad representation of members from minorities, women and North-East region in order to ensure fairness in its functioning, he said. The V-C also inaugurated two selfie-points on the premises in different locations. Sibi. P.S., Deputy Dean, Students' Welfare, K. Tharanikkarasu, Director, Studies, Clement Sagayaradja Lourdes, Director, Culture, Rajneesh Bhutani, Registrar (in-charge), Vijay Kumar, Librarian, deans of schools, heads of the departments, faculty members, officers, staff and students participated.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Students irked over Pondicherry varsity's new code of conduct
The notification of a Proctorial Board Regulations and code of conduct for students and scholars of the Pondicherry University on Saturday has triggered a row between the student community and the administration. The code of conduct, which seeks to enforce discipline on the campus, uses broad terms such as 'decorous manner' of behaviour and provides for imposing a penalty of up to ₹6,000 for 'any act of moral turpitude'. Besides, the university has included hunger strikes, dharnas, group bargaining and any other form of protest within 100-metre radius of any academic and administrative building as an offence with possible punishments including fine up to ₹10,000 and up to two semesters' eviction from the hostel. 'Silencing dissent' Condemning this, the Pondicherry University Students' Council said that this was a way of introducing undefined moral standards 'which could be weaponised against students voicing dissent'. The council accused the university administration of 'criminalising expression and participation' and 'silencing dissent' with punishments that 'overreach legal boundaries'. However, Y. Venkat Rao, Dean of Student Welfare, defended the codes saying they are in line with regulations enforced in other Central universities and are intended to maintain discipline among the students for a healthy academic environment on the Campus. He said the provision for Proctorial Board, as per the Pondicherry University Act, 1985, was left unused for nearly 40 years, but with the university expanding and adding courses, it became necessary to constitute the board to ensure that disciplinary processes were carried out by following principles of natural justice without any disturbance to curricular activities. He added that 'composition of the board consists of all categories including representation from minority, women and Northeast region'. The council, however, contended that the code listed activities of anti-national nature among 'misconducts of level 1', while protests near the academic and administrative building was listed as 'misconduct of level 2'. It questioned the logic behind such classification of misconducts. The council has added that the code, which rules out appeals in cases where only fines are imposed and gives the Proctorial Board power to take suo motu cognisance of offences, gives unchecked powers to Chief Proctor and undermines democratic processes and called for withdrawal of the regulations.
