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- Tharoor Slams DU Advisory On Protests; Professors Demand Immediate Withdrawal
The advisory issued by Delhi University on student protests was questioned during the Academic Council meeting. The issue was raised during Zero Hour, with several professors opposing the advisory.
Teachers call the statement an overreach
Teachers said the advisory overstepped the university’s role and should be removed from X immediately. According to them, it wrongly assumes students can be easily misled.
They argued that students’ lives extend beyond the classroom and questioned why the university was portraying protests as being driven by vested interests. Such advisories, they said, damage the university’s image.
University defends its stand
The university defended the advisory, saying it was issued because students were being misled.
University says advisory will remain unchanged
The university clarified that no changes would be made to the advisory, saying it was issued to ensure students’ safety.
DU issues protest advisory
Amid the ongoing protests in Delhi over the NEET paper leak, Delhi University (DU) issued an advisory asking students and faculty to stay away from sit-ins at Jantar Mantar, warning that participation could invite legal action.
The university said such activities could endanger students’ safety and affect their academic records and future careers. It also urged students to be cautious of misleading information and fake news circulating on social media.
Student groups leading the movement
The protest has seen participation from the Students’ Federation of India (SFI), All India Students’ Association (AISA), All India Students’ Federation (AISF), Cockroach Janta Party (CJP) and independent student groups from various DU colleges.
JNU issues safety advisory
Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) advised students, faculty and staff to act responsibly and prioritise their personal safety. Citing Supreme Court directions on public demonstrations, it urged them not to participate in or visit protest sites at or around Jantar Mantar in New Delhi.
The university also asked members to behave responsibly on social media and uphold the values of academic responsibility and responsible citizenship.
Rahul Gandhi criticises DU advisory
In the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi criticised Delhi University’s advisory asking students to stay away from protests at Jantar Mantar. He accused the university of threatening students for exercising their democratic rights.
Responding on X, Gandhi wrote: “How dare you threaten students for exercising their democratic rights? Remember, when the time comes, you will be held accountable.”
Shashi Tharoor also objects
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor also criticised the advisory, calling it “utterly appalling”. He said that even during the JP Movement before the Emergency, Delhi University did not stop students from joining protests.
Tharoor added that some members of his student union cabinet at St Stephen’s College, including the late Chandan Mitra, had openly taken part in those demonstrations.
Tharoor warns of impact on democracy
Shashi Tharoor said allowing one of India’s leading public universities to threaten students and faculty with consequences for joining protests undermines democratic debate and freedom of expression.
He said many DU students are not in a position to ignore such warnings, fearing participation could harm their academic records or future careers.
According to Tharoor, a university’s role is to encourage critical thinking and independent judgement, not suppress them.
