In the early hours of Tuesday, several law students at Delhi University (DU) protested outside the Law Faculty, demanding an extension of their exams by 10 days. The students alleged that the semester had fallen short of the required number of classes, and as a result, the syllabus was incomplete. They claimed the exams, originally scheduled to begin on December 26, should be postponed until January 10 to allow for adequate preparation.
The protestors reportedly blocked the exit gate, preventing faculty and staff from leaving, prompting the Delhi Police to intervene. Police escorted the Dean and other officials from the campus, creating a corridor to allow their safe exit.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), Raja Banthia, spoke to the protestors and informed them that the exams, which had been set for December 26, had been put on hold. A committee will now be formed to review and announce new dates for the exams.
“We received a request from the DU administration and Proctor Law Faculty that faculty and staff were unable to leave due to the protestors blocking the exit. Police intervened to create a passage and help them exit,” DCP Banthia stated. “The exam dates have been put on hold, and a committee will now decide on the revised dates.”
The protesting students argued that classes had been held for just 60 days, which is significantly below the required 90 days. They highlighted issues such as the appointment of guest faculty only after two months and the rapid pace at which classes were being conducted, making it difficult for students to keep up with the syllabus.
“The rule mandates 90 days of classes per semester, but we’ve had only 60 days. We put forward a request to the Dean to delay the exams until January 10. Initially, the Dean had agreed to this,” said one of the protesting students.
However, tensions escalated when some students accused the police of using lathi charge and tear gas shells to disperse the protestors. One student claimed that the Dean was unresponsive to their concerns, alleging that she often goes on leave when protests occur.
“Whenever there is a protest, the Dean goes on leave and is not concerned about the students. We requested that she not leave until a fresh notice is issued regarding the exams. There are 9,000 students here, and yet the police entered the campus, using force against us. We are not criminals,” the student added.
The ongoing protest reflects growing frustration among law students over what they perceive as inadequate academic support and the rushed exam schedule.
The Delhi University administration is now facing pressure from students to address these concerns and resolve the matter through clear communication and fair accommodations.