DU student expelled for six months over 'scrap NTA' graffiti

New Delhi: A Delhi University (DU) student has been expelled for six months for allegedly writing "scrap NTA" graffiti on a campus wall, according to official orders.

The female student was earlier suspended for over two months.

A police complaint was filed against an MA student of Russian language at the Department of Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies and a member of the Disha Students’ Organisation, accusing her of writing the slogan on DU’s North Campus wall.

The department suspended her on August 21 after an FIR stated that the student was caught in the act on July 31.

The suspension order read, “As communicated by the Proctor, University of Delhi, you are hereby suspended from the Department of Slavonic and Finno-Ugrian Studies, University of Delhi with immediate effect, as the University received a copy of FIR from Maurice Nagar Police Station stating that you were caught red-handed writing objectionable slogans on the walls of the University on 31.07.2024.”

On Monday, the university issued an expulsion order based on the findings of an inquiry committee which found her "guilty of misconduct" and expelled her for six months with immediate effect.

"During this period, she will not be permitted to attend classes, take examinations, or participate in any institutional activities," the order read.

The Disha Students’ Organisation condemned the decision, stating that the graffiti was part of a national campaign against alleged exam irregularities, paper leaks, and the "blunders" of the National Testing Agency (NTA).

In its statement, the group accused DU of silencing dissent and said that they had approached the university administration and the Delhi High Court regarding their decision.

"They refused to hear her. The University’s reply in court claims the expulsion aims to deter students from such activities in the future," the organisation said.

The statement also criticised the uneven application of rules, alleging that during the recent DUSU elections, both ABVP and NSUI were heavily involved in defacing public property, yet no FIRs were filed against them despite court cognizance of the matter.

The organisation further stated that the slogan "Scrap NTA" reflected students’ dissatisfaction with reported irregularities and cheating in exams conducted by the agency.

On Tuesday, Disha Students’ Organisation staged a protest at the Arts Faculty in North Campus, calling the student's expulsion unjust.

There was no immediate reaction from the DU administration.