NEW DELHI: The Delhi University’s Hindu College is “reconsidering” its decision to suspend over 40 students with the administration “looking into” their applications on an “urgent basis”, principal Anju Srivastava said on Friday.
Srivastava has alleged that the suspended students were involved in vandalising the college properties and carried out financial fraud. The college’s suspension decision drew widespread criticism from the students, who staged several protests on the premises, with those served notices alleging partiality on the part of the institute.
“They (the students) have given us verbal apologies and written apologies. We will give students another chance to put forward their sides. We are open to discussion with them. I have asked the disciplinary committee to look into each application separately on an urgent basis. The work has started. We will soon inform the students,” said Srivastava.
Hindu College served notices to more than 40 students and suspended around 25 students, citing “gross misconduct and extremely inappropriate behaviour” during the protest. In addition to that, 15 students have been served notice regarding “financial fraud or cheating” during the two-day event – Mecca’23.
Along with the suspension, each student has been asked to submit Rs 10,000 as a fine and barred from taking up any position. Students have alleged that before deciding to suspend them, neither any disciplinary committee was involved nor any investigation carried out.
“The decision was taken by a disciplinary committee and the actions were not just against those who did protest but also involved in financial fraud. We have proof and only after that we made the decision. The disciplinary committee took several days to come to a conclusion,” the principal defended.