Delhi University has found itself embroiled in controversy yet again following a shocking incident of misconduct during the current university exams that led to a student protest and calls for the administration to be held accountable. A male student alleged he had been subjected to improper physical harrassment by male coordinators in the guise of an “unfair means” search when he was writing his exam. The incident, now disseminated widely across student networks and social media, has prompted demands for swift disciplinary action and a proper re-think of invigilation procedures.
The student, whose name has not been made public due to privacy, was reportedly subjected to humiliating treatment during a routine check. Reports indicate he was inappropriately touched by coordinators. Witnesses such as classmates and invigilators confirmed that the male student protested during the exam and was visibly upset.
What gave the affair further fire was the rationalization made by the coordinating parties. As per sources and a screenshot that is currently trending online, one of the coordinators allegedly told, “He’s a boy, what’s the problem?”—words that have ignited widespread backlash for its nonchalance and gender insensitivity.
The room in which the incident took place allegedly broke out into protest, with students calling for the support of the individual involved and calling for action to be taken at once. The proceedings of the exam were temporarily upset until senior invigilators intervened to regain order.
Student groups have come out in support of the victim, stating that the university administration should not brush the issue aside just because the victim happens to be male. Placards and slogans that can be viewed across campuses are one that states, “Ladke ke sath hua h tb bhi utna hi galat hai” (It’s equally wrong even if it occurred with a boy), pointing toward the imperative to break through gendered assumptions regarding harassment.
Delhi University students have now rallied across campuses, threatening to hold a formal protest if the university does not launch disciplinary action. Activist groups in the university, like the All India Students’ Association (AISA) and Students’ Federation of India (SFI), have demanded transparency and accountability. Most students think the incident is symptomatic of a larger problem of unbridled power wielded by exam coordinators and a lack of sensitivity training among administrative personnel.
Delhi University: What steps are being taken to make sure that students of either gender are safe from such indiscipline in examination centers?
Delhi University’s administration still hasn’t released an official statement until the latest developments. Nevertheless, members of the exam oversight committee have informally attested that there has been an internal probe started. The students are demanding a written apology, suspension of the indicted coordinators, and an independent probe into the incident.
Parents of the affected students have also complained about the safety and dignity of the examinees during such a stressful time. “We send our kids to these schools in order to be educated, and not traumatized,” remarked one anonymous parent.
This event also renewed wider discussion regarding the topic of male harassment victims—a subject commonly underrepresented within campus discussions. Campus advocacy groups are seizing this opportunity to talk more about the necessity of gender-neutral reporting mechanisms and policies.
The Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) have been reportedly notified as some students of DU fall under their purview. Experts in law opine that if the allegations hold true, the university can be held liable under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act as well as administrative negligence.
Against this backdrop, some faculty members have supported the demand of the student body for compulsory sensitivity training for all exam personnel. Some departments have already started working on proposals to be presented to the Vice Chancellor’s office, requesting the administration to include gender-sensitisation modules for coordinators and invigilators prior to every exam cycle.
This is not the first time that Delhi University has come under fire for its exam administration. In earlier years, students have reported rude behavior, excessive frisking, and absence of sensitivity by invigilators—particularly during physical searches.
With students still flocking in solidarity, the attention remains squarely on how the administration decides to address the crisis. “This is not about one boy or one exam hall. It’s about a culture which blinds itself to harassment when it doesn’t fit into the usual narrative,” was how a second-year Political Science student summed it up.
Delhi University is likely to come out with an interim report on the episode in the coming days, and student organizations have announced that they will intensify their movement if justice isn’t palpably meted out.
Meanwhile, the university’s silence is doing nothing but engender speculation and frustration within the student body, with many of them eagerly awaiting to know if their university will defend fairness and dignity—principles that constitute the very essence of academic life.
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